Students work out on opening day at the renovated Iowa State University recreation center. Photo courtesy of Iowa State University.

On Saturday, Iowa State University celebrated the grand opening of its newly refurbished student recreation center, Iowa State Gym. The rec center opened for business when students returned to classes on Jan. 9.

According to an Iowa State University student television broadcast, in the first month since its opening, 64,008 students used the facility.

According to Iowa State Daily, those 64,008 students could utilize a newly implemented 40-foot climbing wall in the foyer that features 10 belaying ropes, a climbing cave and a bouldering wall on the backside. The new facility also features a 190,000-gallon recreational pool area. The pool is complete with diving boards, three swimming lanes and is capable of hosting a number of water sports, including water basketball and water polo. The rest of the room has a 24-person jacuzzi, a vortex pool and a 9-foot-by-16-foot TV.

Mike Giles, director of recreation services, told the newspaper that because of the windows and architecture, much of the building is flooded with natural light, and one can see outside from most places within the building, which also enables people inside to see all the way through the building.

Iowa State Gym also features AV-equipped multipurpose rooms, three full-sized basketball courts, a 1/8-mile running track, a cycling room, a health food café and outdoor seating areas.

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