Students, faculty and dignitaries with the University of Utah dedicated the new George S. Eccles Student Life Center on campus on Thursday.
The center has dozens of fitness amenities for students: cardio equipment; a four-story rock climbing wall; three pools; volleyball, basketball and racquetball courts. ASUU President Justin Spangler has a favorite.
“The hot tub. The hot tub sits like 25 people. It’s beautiful too,” he said.
The facility cost a just over $50 million to build. Two-thirds of that money came from student fees. The rest was covered by private gifts and donors.
With a café, study areas, couches and TVs, Spangler says the Student Life Center isn’t meant to be only a workout space, but a place where students can congregate to relax.
“This place isn’t just somewhere where you go and lift weights and everything, but it’s a place where you can make friends, and you can create relationships and hang out,” Spangler said.
University faculty and staff can pay an annual fee to use the facility, but membership is free for students.
