Stepping Forward in Fitness & Health - The Student Recreation and Wellness Center



Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Photo taken by Brittany Hays

 Since its opening in the fall of August 2010, the Student Recreation and Wellness Center has become a very popular resource for students looking to get in their daily work-out between their busy lives of classes and work. The 126,500-square-foot facility offers students with weight and fitness machines, cardio theater, a wellness center, rock-climbing wall, indoor running track, basketball/volleyball/badminton courts, multi-activity courts, outside recreation pool and spa, sand volleyball, racquetball courts, health-food shop, personal trainers and group fitness classes.

The idea for the center started nearly a decade ago by a group of students who thought California State University, Long Beach needed a place for students to work-out, socialize, relax and lounge. When the center was put on a referendum in 2007 it was approved by nearly 75 percent of student voters, thus allowing for the construction of the $61 million facility.

CSULB President F. King Alexander expressed to BeachPride his excitement for the center upon its approval. "This will not simply be a place to exercise.  It will be a place where people will build lifelong friendships and networks; a place where students, faculty and staff exchange ideas and help one another; a place our graduates will fondly remember when thinking back to their collegiate days, and it will be a place that helps us fulfill our promise to our students to give them a comprehensive collegiate educational experience, one that we all know extends beyond the classroom.”



Inside the REC Center. Photo taken by Brittany Hays

 Only eight months into its opening, it seems the center has gained all of the success and popularity that was anticipated. Rafael Romero, a student and building manager of the center, has been working at the facility since its opening and believes the center has been every bit successful as hoped for. "We get nearly 1,000 students in and out of the center every day - we count the number of people coming in six times a day and it usually averages to about 200 every time."

With six departments and 180 employees, Romero says that he thoroughly enjoys his job. "Everyone is really friendly and easy to get along with and the center is very flexible in working with and around my school schedule." Although he admits that the center is still young and they face new challenges every day, he feels that everything has been going very well, and encourages that everyone come in to check out the new facility the university has to offer.

The center is open:

Monday - Thursday - 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Friday - 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday - 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday - 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.