The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity each week. As part of MSU’s Healthy Campus Initiative and sustainable health goals, the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center aims to assist the MSU community in reaching those activity targets. The center, on track for completion in February 2026, is the first major recreation facility of its kind at MSU in more than 50 years. Designed with direct input from students, the 293,000 square-foot facility will become a central hub for student health, fitness, stress reduction and community building.
Award-Winning Landmark
This year, the MSU Student Recreation and Wellness Center was recognized as one of five honorees at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Celebration of Regional Growth (CORG) Awards held at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Nov. 13.
The CORG Awards celebrate organizations whose leadership and investments significantly strengthen the Greater Lansing region’s economic growth and long-term community well-being. Since its creation, the program has recognized more than 90 businesses and institutions contributing over $5 billion to the regional economy.
The award highlights the university’s $200 million investment in student health and sustainability. The building was specifically recognized for its state-of-the-art design and its role in expanding wellness resources that will serve thousands of students each year.
According to the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tim Daman, president and CEO of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce says, “Each of this year’s honorees is helping build a stronger, more connected community through innovation, investment and leadership.”
Student-Centered Design
The facility was designed around student needs, offering flexible open spaces and a wide range of activities focused on movement, connection and well-being. Inside, students will find several gymnasiums and multi-activity courts, a turf arena, an indoor running track, cycling, yoga and fitness studios, strength spaces, table tennis, sports simulators and two university classrooms. A 50-meter Olympic-size pool will be available for open swim and water fitness classes. The facility will also feature gender-inclusive locker rooms and restrooms.
“It’s a place where students can feel very proud of the commitment MSU has made to provide this service. I think it goes above and beyond what a typical student might expect,” says Kenneth Bertolini, former project and construction manager for the Residential and Hospitality Services Planning and Projects Office. “I think they’re going to be excited and really wowed.”
HVAC Up and Running
Construction has moved quickly since the July 2023 groundbreaking. Throughout the past year, the project has reached several major milestones, including the installation of windows and skylights, completion of the rock wall and pool structure, painting and drywalling, laying tile flooring, landscaping, placement of specialty paneling, installation of ceiling tile, and the installation of roughly two acres of wood flooring and wood veneer wall coverings.
The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system was completed ahead of schedule, a critical step in stabilizing humidity and temperature levels necessary for installing materials, including wood flooring. The early enclosure of the building made this possible. MSU and external partner Granger Construction set a deadline to enclose the structure by late summer and exceeded expectations.
Granger Construction Project Manager Nate Massa says the early HVAC milestone was essential to the extensive wood flooring, veneer wall coverings and specialty finishes and environmental controls established earlier than usual.\
Granger Construction averaged 183 workers on-site each day. Bertolini credits the company’s organization and staffing for maintaining quality and efficiency.
“Granger Construction has been doing a remarkable job of coordinating all that construction work. They’ve kept a very clean construction site, which is important for safety,” says Bertolini. “They have remained extremely diligent on the project and top-notch team of project engineers, project superintendent and project manager who are on the site every single day.”
A Light of Sustainability
When students enter the center, they will step into an airy, light-filled space with three ETFE skylights, a three-layer inflated skylight system rarely used on this scale. The facility incorporates passive design strategies, polished concrete floors to reduce material waste, energy-tempering insulation and advanced mechanical systems that reduce carbon emissions and water use.
“It’s bringing the outdoors indoors to work out,” says Massa. “With the capacity and the amount of people that use the existing facilities, this will provide relief in traffic. A lot more space and a lot more volume to spread out.”
The center will replace the aging IM West Fitness Center. MSU’s current recreation facilities range from 40 to 100 years old, with maintenance and capacity challenges. Funded in part by the 2021 student recreational facility fee, the new center will significantly expand access for students while easing strain on older spaces. The building reflects the university’s commitment to enhancing student life, improving wellness resources and expanding recreation capacity across campus.
Milestones on the Horizon
Upcoming milestones include:
- Completing second-floor ceiling tile installation
- Completing first-floor interior work
- Delivering and installing furniture, equipment and interior plants
- Maintaining climate conditions for wood floor installation
- Continued progress on the natatorium, including the upcoming pool bottom slab pour
Bertolini says the team remains “very comfortable; everything is moving along to meet the dates expected from the start.”
A Cornerstone of Campus
As construction transitions from structural work to aesthetic final finishes, excitement continues to build across campus.
“So far, the most rewarding part is the opportunity to continue our relationship with MSU and Granger. We just love working with MSU,” says Massa.
For Bertolini, the anticipation is only growing. “I’m excited to see what the entire MSU community thinks of it when they walk in and see the looks on people’s faces when they see it for the first time.”
When the doors open in 2026, the Student Recreation and Wellness Center will stand as a major investment in student health and become a cornerstone of campus for decades to come.
Learn more about the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Author: Olivia Williams, communication assistant