In 2012, the recession may finally have caught up with the university rec center market. Universities continued to buy and build during the recession because budgets for most capital projects are planned years in advance, says Bill Crockett, director, university recreation and fitness, University of Maryland, Baltimore. However, 2012 will be different, he says.

The funding for the purchases, programming and renovations slated for this year likely was granted during the height of the recession, which means not as many were funded or started during the recession—and that could mean less building and buying in the next few years.

Less funding could affect the university market in several ways. First and foremost, it means that university officials and boards of regents will scrutinize the dollars spent more closely than in the past, Crockett says.

“Universities are looking for more accountability, robust decision-making that is data driven and enhanced assessment of programs and services,” Crockett says. Senior leadership will expect and demand more from their recreation services departments to provide data that demonstrates the value of services provided, the relationship of those services to students’ collegiate success and sound financial management. As costs for students rise in every area, university rec centers will be just one area where administrators will have to justify how tuition and fees are being used and to justify the necessity of the value returned.

Less funding might translate into renovations rather than new construction for rec centers, says Gene Grzywna, director of campus recreation at Northeastern University in Boston, because board of trustees and/or state legislatures might be more willing to fund cheaper renovations than expensive new construction.

Crockett says that the surge of facilities that opened between 10 to 15 years ago soon will need upkeep or renovation so they can reflect current design and programming trends.

Even though new construction has slowed and will continue to be slow this year, Crockett says that 2012 should be a buyer's market in terms of labor and materials, which should make renovation an attractive option at this time. Universities may see an upswing in the planning and funding stages starting this year, Crockett says, adding that he thinks more renovation projects will get underway.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.