Intramural Physical Education Building / IMPE

Initial site sketches were done for the new Intramural Physical Education Building in 1965 [1] and ground was broken on the 234,386 square foot [2] facility on August 20, 1968. [3] However, in an interesting move, in November of 1964, the President of the Student Senate had submitted a letter from the Student Senate to the Board of Trustees to delay the action on the building until December to "provide an opportunity for expression of student opinion on the question of financing the construction of the building by student fees". However, this motion was denied. [4]

The $11,275,315 complex [5] was designed by Holabird & Root, with Kuhne-Simmons providing the general contracting services [6] and opened in 1971. [7] The new building was to provide 251,240 gross square feet, with 17,200 net feet for women only, 36,600 for men only, and 46,627 square feet of shared space. A 21,525 square foot indoor swimming pool and 5,860 square feet of lounges, conference rooms, and offices rounded out the indoor space at 128,812 square feet, while an 8,316 square foot outdoor swimming pool and surrounding deck brought the grand total to 154,000 net square feet. [8]

A $54.9M renovation is currently underway, adding 103,433 square feet to the complex. Among the list of changes are "basketball courts, weight and fitness addition, new climbing wall, new 1/6-mile indoor track, upgrade of existing indoor pool and new spa, upgrade of locker rooms and support area, new wellness center, and social areas. [9]