By Brittany Rejda
As collegiate recreation programs continue to grow, renovations and newly constructed recreation facilities will continue to be a rising trend. The 2010-2015 NIRSA Facilities Construction and Renovation Survey shows nearly 160 projects underway, representing more than $1.7 billion in capital projects! Fifty-five percent of these projects are new construction while the remaining balance represents renovation projects to existing facilities. Two-thirds of reported projects expect to be completed before 2015.
While specialty institutes are always beneficial and inspiring, the current initiatives and happenings within the world of recreation facilities make the NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute, presented by Mondo, a can’t-miss event!
Adam Pruett, The Claremont Colleges, a recent Facilities Institute attendee, certainly found this to be true, saying, “We learned a lot of information and received amazing advice from vendors, architects, and colleagues that will be needed in order to be successful in building and opening our new facility.”
The 2014 Facilities Institute will be in Houston, TX!The Facilities Institute is tailored to provide in depth information on planning, constructing, renovating, and operating recreation sports facilities through educational sessions, roundtable discussions, networking opportunities, and facility tours. This thriving industry has increased the demand for knowledgeable and qualified facility managers and directors. There is something for everyone at the Facilities Institute, including:
- Directors who oversee facility management and/or design
- Senior administrators who want to learn more about new facilities and their profound impact on the success of an institution
- Master planners at colleges and universities
- Architects and design firms who work or are considering working with colleges and universities
- Facilities professionals who manage and oversee facility operations and/or the design of new facilities
- Programming professionals who want to build their knowledge in the facilities profession
- Students who are interested in pursuing a career in non-profit recreation, sports, and fitness
No matter your background, “there is always a take-away from the NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute,” says Tara Parker, Kennesaw State University. Megan St. Vigne, UNT Health Science Center, agrees, noting, “Even though my facility is much smaller than most institutions, the information shared at the educational sessions was extremely beneficial!”
Additionally, with the many exciting, new buildings and renovations in the greater Houston area, this fast-growing city is a prime location for the 2014 Institute. Attendees are encouraged to book their room in the NIRSA hotel block at the Houston Marriott Westchase by October 1.
Registration for this event will be opening soon, so be on the lookout for a Register today! link on the registration webpage; you can also stay up-to-date by “liking” NIRSA on Facebook and following @NIRSAlive on Twitter. In fact, you can start the networking and conversation early by using the NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute’s hashtag #NIRSAbuild in your tweets!
As announced in the June 11 news article, presentation proposals are open for the 2014 Facilities Institute; members are encouraged to share their knowledge and add their experience to the overall program content. In addition to focuses on design/construction and management operations, this year’s Institute will also be focusing on the Built Community concept, which explores how one builds community through physical space. Presentation proposals are due August 1, so don’t delay –submit your proposal today!
