OSU's Colvin Center named one of six top centers in nation

Thursday, April 14, 2005

The National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association has named Oklahoma State University’s Colvin Center one of the top collegiate sports facilities in the nation.

Colvin Center Director Kent Bunker said the OSU facility received the association’s Facility of Merit Award at a recent national conference. The association represents almost every public and private college and university nationwide.

"The honorees are chosen by a group of architects and student collegiate recreational professionals,” Bunker said. “The top centers are chosen on the basis of functionality, the attractiveness of the architecture and facility, programming, adaptability to student needs and wise use of budget dollars. To be at the very top of a very long list of nominees is quite an honor, especially when you consider that institutions nationwide have been upgrading facilities. Last year, colleges and universities spent close to $3.5 billion to renovate student recreational centers.”

The Colvin Center itself recently completed a $23-million renovation and upgrade that was funded at the students' request.

"The project was paid for by a fee approved by students. Our students wanted a bigger and better facility, and they voted to make it happen,” Bunker said. “I think they are very satisfied with the results. Our average use at the center is 4,000 students a day.”

The “new” Colvin Center offers students 240,000 square feet of recreational space. The facility is state-of-the-art, with a cardio theater, indoor running track, indoor golf facility, dance studies, multiple gyms, weight rooms, a climbing wall, a renovated indoor swimming pool and a new outdoor pool.

Bunker said programming at the Colvin Center is offered in six areas: the intramural program, which is the most extensive on-campus recreational program for students; an Outdoor Adventure program; a Sports Club program; Adaptive Sports; Aquatics, an “F-I-T First” program, which offers non-credit courses in fitness, instruction, wellness and aerobics; and an open recreation program that allows students to exercise at their convenience.

"We’re very proud of this facility and so glad that our students enjoy it and use it to stay healthy and well,” Bunker said. “The Colvin Center is bringing national attention to Oklahoma State University.”