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Queens University Announces Plans For Construction
Of The
Levine Center for
Wellness & Recreation
Fast facts and FAQ
The Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation will greatly enhance the vibrancy of our campus. In addition to providing major new facilities for wellness, recreational and athletic activities, it will serve as a hub of campus life. It will be named for Leon and Sandra Levine whose Levine Foundation made this project possible.
Fast Facts
• Two above-ground levels, one below
• 140,000 sq. ft.
• $30 million facility
• Fitness center and 8-lane, 120-foot indoor pool
• Site work begins July 2011
• Building begins December 2011
• Est. completion July 2013
FAQ
Why does Queens need a new Wellness and Recreation Center?
Students of today place a significant emphasis on activities centered around fitness, recreation, and sports. Research shows that students who are engaged socially and pursue fitness and wellness are more academically successful and have higher graduation rates. This new center will help Queens serve the campus community better and will help us be more competitive in attracting prospective students.
What will be in the new building?
The Levine Center will be home to our Athletics and Physical Education departments. Student athletes will benefit from a varsity weight room, training room, trophy room, classrooms, and conference space, as well as well-appointed locker rooms for the Royals home and visiting teams.
The performance gym will have three basketball courts side-by-side with moveable walls and retractable bleachers that will allow the space to be configured differently as needed.
Its aquatic center, with an 8-lane, 120-foot pool and moveable bulkhead, will be used by the men's and women's swim teams and for physical education classes, as well as for recreational swimming and intramural sports.
Other features will include a three-lane indoor walking track, weight room, and studios for dance and group fitness classes.
A new residence hall and parking deck will be constructed at the same time as the Levine Center. Both facilities will be full brick, compatible with the university’s existing Georgian style of architecture. The deck will have 500 parking spaces. The residence hall will have 175 beds.
Where will the Levine Center be located?
It will be at the existing site of Ovens Athletic Center on Wellesley Avenue.
Where will the entrance be?
Visitors will enter the new building from the interior of campus, facing Dana Auditorium. We will create a new circular driveway that will bring idling buses and cars off Wellesley Avenue.
How will construction work?
The Levine Center will replace the existing Ovens Athletic Center, using the same footprint, but adding one below-ground level. Site work will begin in July 2011, and building in December 2011. Construction activity will be limited to between approximately 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., and construction vehicles will be parked on the interior of campus to avoid neighborhood disruption. A privacy fence will surround the site, and it will go up in stages as the project progresses.
What about the trees?
Tremendous care is being taken to protect our beautiful trees as we improve our campus. We will hire an arborist and all trees close to the construction site will be fenced in to protect not only the trees themselves, but also their root systems. In addition, we will plant new trees for each tree that is removed during construction.
Have neighborhood residents been involved?
Yes. Through the Myers Park-Queens Community Relations Committee the university has sought input from and shared information with our neighbors over the past few years, during the planning and fundraising process. Queens representatives also have met regularly with the Myers Park Homeowners Association Board to keep communication flowing. Finally, a series of neighborhood information sessions has started and will continue intermittently throughout the project.
Am I able to see renderings for the building?
Yes, please visit www.queens.edu/levine and click on “Additional Views” in the bottom right corner.
Queens’ to Break Ground This Spring for The Rogers Science & Health Building
Science and health programs at Queens are poised to take a huge leap forward with the construction of the new Rogers Science & Health building. Queens has long had an excellent
eakfastscience faculty in a diverse spectrum of fields, as well as creative and inquisitive students with a strong desire to learn.
This ambitious project is the primary academic building priority of the “Investing in Queens’ Future” campaign. Queens is thrilled that this state-of-the-art structure will finally provide a facility that matches the high quality of our science and health faculty, students and programs.
What exactly will be in the new building?
The building will provide classroom and lab space for science programs such as chemistry, biology and environmental science. The space will also house the administrative offices of the Blair College of Health, which includes our nursing school.
How large is the building, and where will it be located?
The building is 56,000 square feet and will be placed at the corner of Selwyn and Radcliffe avenues. For comparison purposes, it will mirror the Sykes Learning Center (the three-story building that houses the McColl School of Business near the corner of Selwyn and Wellesley) and will provide a “bookend” effect that frames the university and provides a pleasing and complete look to campus.
Will this block the current view of Belk Chapel?
The current view of Belk Chapel will be changed. The university is also seeking funds to re-orient the entrance of the chapel to face Radcliffe Avenue and enhance its prominence. The new façade will match the current architectural design and will add some needed elements such as a bride’s room and public restrooms. It will also include a circular driveway that will remove chapel traffic from Radcliffe. Preliminary designs create an improved pedestrian entrance to the campus, with green space and a beautiful interior courtyard.
What about the trees?
Tremendous care was taken in considering our trees. We looked at multiple site plans for the building with an eye toward retaining the maximum number. Many of the largest trees on the site will be saved, including nine large-circumference oaks and hickories. Of the 25 existing trees on the building site, we will lose nine and relocate four (dogwoods) to other areas of campus. In addition, we will plant new trees along the front of the building on Selwyn.
Queens has hired an arborist to oversee tree protection throughout the entire project. All of the trees close to the construction site will be fenced in to protect not only the trees themselves, but also the root systems. The arborist will visit weekly to check the health of the trees to ensure they are not negatively affected by construction.
When will construction begin, and what is Queens doing to lessen disruption?
Construction is scheduled to begin mid-May, and we expect it to be completed by the fall of 2012.
To mitigate neighborhood disruption, we have designated a portion of the parking lot behind the Harris Welcome Center (on Radcliffe) for construction vehicles. This will keep the streets free from trucks, cars and debris. The street will also be washed down daily so that no mud or dust accumulate.
Am I able to see renderings for the building?
Yes, please visit www.queens.edu/sciencebuilding.
Who can I contact for additional information?
Please contact Jennifer Matz, director of Community Relations, at matzj@queens.edu or 704 337-2404.
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