Facility History

In 1996, James Madison University opened its doors to a 140,700 square foot Recreation Center (UREC). All recreational programs are centralized in this multi-level complex (located near the JMU Convocation Center) to offer the JMU community a comprehensive menu of recreational and educational opportunities.

UREC has traditionally been a single location with most activities taking place in and around our facilities. For more information about facility click here or take a VIRTUAL TOUR. (**Recommended browsers for virtual tour: Explorer or Firefox**) With the addition of Memorial Fields and other indoor spaces in Memorial Hall (Click here for a current camps map) we can better accommodate our intramural and sport club programs. We are also in the process of developing an adventure leadership center located near the arboretum and are in the early stages of planning an "outdoor" UREC near the corner of Port Republic Road and Neff Avenue. Check back for more updates!

Check out information about the Smoothie Bar!

New UREC Facility: UREC Upper Turf

November 2, 2008 marked the opening of UREC's newly constructed "Upper Turf." This 140,000 square foot outdoor recreational sports facility is located just above the tree line that is a backdrop for the existing turf field. The addition of this new turf will be a welcome addition to UREC outdoor facilities to help accommodate the growing number of intramural sports teams and sport club participants.

This is the largest turf that the construction company has ever built, fitting 3 flag football fields, 2 softball fields or 2 soccer fields on one contiguous piece of field turf. There are two major sustainable aspects to the facility. This includes "Light Structure Green" lighting, which is energy-efficient and web-controlled. Also, the turf material is comprised of recycled rubber from the "Nike Grind" program, which recycles post-consumer athletic shoes and reuses the granulated rubber as building material.

List of General Access Rooms

Level 1

• Atrium - health fairs, special events, informal meetings; max. capacity: 200
• Climbing Wall - (24' wide x 32' high) rock-like surface (located in the UREC Atrium), climbing schools, clinics, free climbs
• Courtyard - equipped with a barbecue pit for cookouts and picnic tables, sand volleyball court
• Equipment Center - adventure and recreation equipment check-out, locker service, towel service
• Fitness Level 1 (Creech Fitness Center) - free weight area with barbells, dumbbells, and plate loaded equipment, nutritional analysis office; max capacity: 75
• Group Instruction Room - educational programs, meeting space; max capacity: 37
• Locker Rooms - scales, lockers, showers, restroom facilities, bathing suit dryers
• Massage Studio - certified massage therapists offering Swedish and sport massage
• Multi-Activity Gymnasium (MAC) - (55'7" x 99'6 1/2") rounded corners facilitate indoor soccer, and floor hockey play as well as badminton and pickle-ball; max capacity: 141 seated
• Pool with Jacuzzi/Sauna - 25 meter by 25 yard pool with 11 lanes, 15 person spa, dry sauna; max capacity: 200
• 4 Racquetball/Walleyball Courts - max capacity: 12 per court
• Smoothie Bar - choice of fruit juice, orange or yogurt smoothies, healthy snacks
• Wet Classroom - multi-environment instructional room

Level 2

• Aerobic Studio - features specialized wood flooring to soften impact; max capacity: 189
• Fitness Level 2 (Creech Fitness Center) - cardiovascular equipment, selectorized strength equipment, assessment office; max capacity: 105
• Main Gymnasium - (102'15" x 208') 4 full basketball/volleyball courts for intramurals, sport clubs, and open recreation; max capacity: 3000 seated
• Multi-Purpose Studio - used for movement arts, mind/body programs, martial arts; max capacity: 90
• 4 Racquetball/Walleyball Courts - max capacity: 12 per court
  

Level 3

• Cycling Studio - houses cycles for group exercise classes
• Indoor Track - approximately 10 laps to a mile, 3 lanes; max capacity: 50
• Stretching Area
• Student Leadership Office - meeting space, student employee/sport clubs work stations

Outdoor Facilities

• Courtyard
• Lower Turf
• Upper Turf
• Tennis Courts
• Coming Soon: University Park!

Shared Facilities

• Godwin Hall
  • Sinclair Gym Courts
  • Multipurpose Room (MPS)
  • 135 Cage
  • Gymnastics Room
  • Swimming Pool
  • Combatives Room
• Memorial Hall
  • Auxiliary Gym
  • Field House
• Field Hockey/Track Complex
  • Turf
  • Track