The Sanderson Center at Mississippi State University is receiving a $3.75 million dollar remodel funded partly by increased student activity fees.
Jason Townsend, associate director of programs at the Sanderson Center, said that since the center’s opening in 1998, many aspects of the building have never been updated and are in need of renovation.
“Things have heavily aged,” Townsend said. “We’ve never really done some of the carpeting. We’ve never really done some of the tile. We’ve never repainted. This is going to afford us the opportunity to do some aesthetic work.”
Townsend said the renovations will breathe new life into the Sanderson Center through updates to fitness equipment and spaces throughout the facility. These renovations are planned to occur in three phases.
Phase one will consist of filling in the balcony space upstairs, adding about 1,000 square feet of space for more equipment. It will also include adding a new staircase at the front entrance.
Phase two will consist of knocking out the racquetball courts in the glass gyms upstairs to create a more functional fitness space and a different atmosphere. There will still be four courts for racquetball and volleyball on both floors of the center.
“It’s not going to be a lot of the heavy barbells, maybe some TRX bands you do suspension training and kettlebells,” Townsend said. “Things like that, but not a lot of heavy equipment for the general population. We want a very inviting atmosphere up there.”
Erin McInnis, a junior civil engineering major from Madison, believes that remodels are past due in the upstairs area where she frequently exercises.
“I would like to see better updated equipment because all of the equipment we have now is rusted and outdated. The dumbbells are rusty, and you can’t tell what the amount of weight is on the kettlebells,” McInnis said.
Phase three will add a bouldering wall in place of the current kickboxing gym.
David Hintz, a senior communication student from Columbus, works in University Recreation and is a beginner climber. Hintz said that he feels the new bouldering wall will be a great addition to the Sanderson Center.
“I’ve heard it’s going to be another opportunity for us as employees to set some cool bouldering puzzles. We’re going to have some easier stuff for beginner climbers and then maybe some more advanced stuff. I think that’ll be really, really cool to continue doing that over there and just have a lot more space so that we can climb more and more people can get interested in it,” Hintz said.
In addition to the progress made with each phase, students can expect to see updates to the flooring throughout the facility. There has not yet been a confirmed timeline for renovations, but administration is hoping to begin in May 2024.
$1.25 million will be raised from the student activity fee and matched by MSU for a budget of $2.5 million for the first year of renovations. The second year, $1.25 million of student activity fees will fund renovations.
Afterward, $10 of each $25 activity fee will fund the remaining renovations, a dollar amount not factored into the $3.75 million figure.
Townsend said there will be more renovations to the facility in the next few years and that these first three phases are only the beginning.
“We want to do new turnstiles at the front and reimagine the way the welcome desk looks by really bringing out a maroon, bulldog feel. The corridor, as you walk down, will eventually get new carpet,” Townsend said. We’ll build more café-styled seating areas down the hallway to make it more friendly. We want to keep doing that branding and keep making these inviting spaces and facilities for students.”
Only these three phases have been confirmed, but Townsend hopes for renovations to the pool and natatorium to be included in future projects.