The go-to workout facility for Texas State students and staff, the Student Recreation Center has been offering a wide variety of services since 1994. Its focus on an experience beyond an individual workout creates a unique environment that encourages wellness in its community.
 
The Student Recreation Center, located at 1011 Academy St, is home to a climbing wall, individual workout space, a swimming pool and a host of other amenities for students.
 
However, the Student Recreation Center extends beyond the main building to include the Outdoor Center at Sewell Park, where visitors can rent tubes, paddle boards and other outdoor equipment, and the University Camp in Wimberly, a 125-acre campground dedicated to outdoor recreation for students.
Previously, the Student Recreation Center has won the National Intramural Recreation Association Facility of Merit Award. Director of Campus Recreation Christy Nolan wants visitors to feel a sense of community in a safe space, no matter what they come to the Recreation Center to do.
 
“Wellness has several dimensions,” Nolan said. “If a student comes to us to lift weights, run our track, relax on a couch in between classes, work on a dance routine in our studios, grab some overnight oats from Shake Smart, print a paper in our computer lab, or for a job, they feel welcome and comfortable in our facilities and programs.”
 
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Student Recreation Center is currently closed, but it is still working to provide support to the Texas State community.
 
“Since our facilities are currently closed, we are contacting our student staff on a weekly basis to check in and see how we can support them in this time of uncertainty,” Nolan said. “We have our Fitness and Wellness Program providing live, via the internet, group fitness classes and other online resources. We also have some Personal Trainers providing remote training opportunities to their clients.”
 
Nolan said the primary goal of the Student Recreation Center as circumstances change due to COVID-19 is still the same.
 
“There are many ways to define recreation, wellness, sports etc.,” Nolan said. “With a student body of 38,000 there are a myriad of ways that students choose to ‘recreate.’ It’s our goal to strive to meet as many of those choices as possible through our facilities, programming and staff.”
 
2nd place: Texas Health and Racquet Club
3rd place: Gold’s Gym