The university will host a student-focused opening ceremony, RecWell After Dark, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, with:

• 3-on-3 basketball

• Knockout basketball

• 30-on-30 dodgeball

• Pickleball

• Volleyball

• Wall-climbing

• On the Rocks Spring preview using the demo kitchen

• Free T-shirts

• Free food

The space will formally open at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 27 for all students, faculty and staff in the lobby of the Recreation and Wellness Center. Attendees are encouraged to wear Quinnipiac apparel.

The new, state-of-the-art, 157,000-square-foot facility, which includes part of the former Athletics and Recreation Center, includes:

• a curved, 27-foot tall climbing wall complete with 2 TrueBlue auto-belays and 2 manual belaying lanes — with free shoe rentals

• 4 living green walls throughout the space

• A large dance studio modeled after the competition floor at Universal Dance Association College Nationals

• A medium group exercise studio with retractable doors leading out to a deck overlooking Sleeping Giant State Park

• A yoga studio

• A dedicated athletic training room for the estimated 430 club sports athletes with two hydrotherapy tubs

• 19,120 pounds of free weights

• 20 Matrix machines

• 64 Matrix plate-loaded strength pieces

• 6 SciFit and Nu-Step adaptive cardio pieces

• 5 Eleiko lifting racks with platforms

• Turf fitness area with yardage markers offering:

  • 2 tire flips

  • 1 sled-mill

  • 1 sled

  • 4 ployboxes

  • Sandbags

  • Battle ropes

  • 3 dual-cable cross-trainers

  • Agility ladders

  • 2 fitbenches

  • Slam balls

  • Light dumbbells

• Demo kitchen and nutrition classes

• Fuel bar, featuring Shake Smart’s extensive menu of shakes, bowls and açaí bowls, coffee, sandwiches, oatmeal, and wraps

• Breathing room complete with meditation cushions and eye pillows

• Strong studio with equipment

• Brand new Spinner Chrono Power Bikes, 25 of the first 300 to arrive in the United States

• Complimentary outdoor and camping equipment rentals

• An outdoor amphitheater adjacent to the building

The space also includes three all-gender, single restrooms. All showers are now single-stall.

In addition, the project aimed to pay homage to our natural surroundings by incorporating organic elements such as natural wood and stone, living green walls, and three walls bringing to life a map of the Quinnipiac River, and trail and topographical maps of the Sleeping Giant State Park — all bringing a sense of well being and calm throughout the entire building. 

All recreation, wellness and fitness classes are offered to students, faculty and staff at no charge. On Friday, the following introductory classes will be offered:

• 10:45 a.m.: Intro to Zumba

• 11:15 a.m.: Intro to Balletone

• 11:30 a.m.: Intro to bootcamp

• Noon: Intro to yoga

• 12:15 p.m.: Intro to functional training

• 1 p.m.: Intro to Balletone

• 1 p.m.: Intro to functional training

Please register at IMLeagues — and visit the site to see a full list of offerings.

Download the IMLeagues mobile app

Visit the IMLeagues website

Of the new 60,000-square-foot space, 15,000 of it is dedicated to health and counseling, offering a full suite of counseling and healthcare services through our partnership with Hartford HealthCare. Nearly 100,000 square feet remain from the attached Athletic and Recreation Center.

The Recreation and Wellness Center is the first major completion of the “Designing our Future” master facilities plan, unveiled in January 2021, providing a comprehensive strategy and set of recommendations. Construction has recently begun on the next major phase, the South Quad, consisting of a new residence hall and two new academic buildings.