Recreation Center

The extensions which have just been made to the Gymnasium have given the University what is, in effect, a new Recreation Centre.

Designed by Athfield Architects Ltd, the extensions have doubled the capacity of the fifteen year-old Gymnasium by adding a further 12,000 square feet of building at a cost of around $500,000.

Erected without the help of any subsidy from the Government, the extensions will be paid for from the Building Fund subscribed to by all students as part of their annual Students' Association fees.

The original Gymnasium, built in 1961 when the University had about 3,500 students, contained a large gymnasium of basketball-court size with room for indoor ski-training, table tennis and a trampoline, as well as a smaller dance room, a weight training gymnasium and changing rooms.

The extensions, planned since 1969, include a cot fee-bar and lounge area, a sauna, a gymnasium for activities such as modern dance, gymnastics and some of the martial arts and a long, narrow room suitable for indoor cricket, golf archery and rifle-shooting.

The Wellington Cricket Association and the Wellington Women's Cricket Association have provided financial assistance to the University Union to enable the long room in the Recreation Centre to be equipped with indoor cricket nets. The Wellington Cricket Association has paid for the special flooring installed in the long room and the Wellington Women's Cricket Association has provided funds to enable nets to be purchased. In return, these two Associations have been granted use of the facilities for cricket practice and coaching.

Since the Recreation Centre was first built, student numbers have doubled and pressures on the facilities have [unclear: mourted] rapidly. Used both by staff and students, classes are by three full-time physical welfare officers and the Recreation Centre provides opportunities for casual recreation and a home base for a number of university sports clubs and the Master of Arts (Applied) degree in Recreation [unclear: Administration] as well as providing another social centre on the campus.

In its transormed state, the Recreation Centre will be a valuable part of the University's student services.