\n\tBy SHANNON O. WELLS<\/p>\n
\n\tAnecdotally at least, Level 4 of Pitt\u2019s new, nine-story Recreation and Wellness Center attracts fitness-focused patrons as much for its high-profile location as its wide array of strength and cardio equipment.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe most heavily utilized fitness area has been Level 4,\u201d noted Chris Marks, executive director of campus recreation. \u201cStaff often joke that its popularity is helped by (that) it\u2019s the first fitness space students encounter after entering \u2026 rom the Level 5 entrance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\t\tPitt\u2019s Recreation and Wellness Center was the cover story for the May\/June edition of Campus Rec Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tOther popular hubs in the O\u2019Hara Street building include Level 3, which features \u201csectorized strength equipment and a functional turf training zone,\u201d and Level 7, which has fitness equipment situated alongside \u201csome of the best connectivity and views in the facility,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n\tAfter several months of operation \u2014 and steadily increasing use from Pitt students and in employee memberships \u2014 Marks reflected on what\u2019s gone well at the Rec and Wellness Center along with tweaks being made in anticipation of the 2026-27 academic year.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe opening of the Recreation & Wellness Center has gone exceptionally smoothly,\u201d he said, which he called a \u201cdirect result of the thoughtful planning and execution by the team. Both our professional and student staff have been outstanding this year, demonstrating not only strong preparation in planning operations and programming across the facility, but also a remarkable ability to adapt and respond to unexpected challenges in real time.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe center, which officially opened last September<\/a>, is now what he called \u201cfully operational, with only a few finishing touches underway this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tDespite ongoing work at the adjacent Arena and Sports Performance Center at Victory Heights<\/a>, the facility\u2019s Level 5 hillside entrance is complete. The overall hillside project includes enhancements to the landscape directly behind the Rec and Wellness Center, along with new pedestrian pathways \u201cdesigned to strengthen connectivity between upper and lower campus.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe improvements, including directional signage being installed throughout the facility to enhance navigation and a dedicated wayfinding kiosk to help students locate available fitness and recreation spaces, are expected to be finished before the fall term begins, Marks said.<\/p>\n \n\tSo far, the Rec and Wellness Center\u2019s 49-feet-high climbing wall and the aquatics center have seen the most remarkable increases in use compared to the former climbing wall at Trees Hall and campus indoor pools in 2024-25.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe climbing wall, which supports both top-rope climbing and bouldering, saw participation grow from 5,281 visits in 2024-25 to 20,852 (in 2025-26),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n\tThe aquatic center \u2014 featuring six lap lanes, a recreational swimming section for pool volleyball and basketball, and a hot tub \u2014 experienced an increase from 4,133 to 10,796 users over the same period compared to pools at Trees and Bellefield halls, he noted.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThese substantial gains reflect not only growing student interest, but also the impact of relocating both amenities to a more centralized and visible location,\u201d he said, \u201cmaking them more inviting and convenient for the campus community.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHaving both amenities in one visible location allows students who may have otherwise not sought out those amenities to be exposed to them.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tSince last summer, the Trees pool and fitness center have been reserved for use solely by Pitt Athletics and community organizations<\/a>, with faculty and staff excluded. The aging Bellefield Hall pool closed permanently.<\/p>\n \n\tWith advanced technology features integrated throughout the facility designed \u201cto enhance the user experience,\u201d Marks said when technical issues arise, \u201cour team has consistently demonstrated flexibility and problem-solving skills, quickly pivoting to ensure that programming, services and engagement opportunities continue without disruption.\u201d<\/p>\n \tFaculty and staff members<\/p>\n \n\tSince they became available in November, Marks said the number of faculty and staff memberships has grown \u201csignificantly,\u201d from 117 last fall to 311 this spring. Membership purchases are available for eligible employees, which does not include staff represented by the United Steelworkers and All-Temps employees.<\/p>\n \n\tThe increase demonstrates \u201cstrong and growing interest\u201d from employees, he noted. \u201cThere remains ample capacity for additional faculty and staff to take advantage of (Rec and Wellness Center) membership opportunities to support their physical activity and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tPitt employees who earn less than $50,000 annually, or the hourly equivalent, pay $35 for a monthly membership, while the cost for employees earning $50,000 or more is $45 per month. Postdoctoral associates and scholars have the same facility access as other eligible employees. Emeritus faculty can purchase a Rec and Wellness Center membership for $35 a month.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tMembership provides employees access to five floors of strength, cardio and functional-training fitness equipment; the aquatic center; six sports courts for basketball, volleyball, badminton, pickleball and futsal; and a three-lane track. They also can check out equipment for the sports courts and access a fitness app to track their wellness progress.<\/p>\n \n\tAs the center was intentionally designed to accommodate the University\u2019s future growth, Marks said it \u201cexceeds national standards for fitness space relative to student enrollment.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tFaculty and staff utilize the same spaces and hours as students. \u201cWhile there are no dedicated facilities exclusively for faculty and staff, the (rec center) offers inclusive and flexible options, including gender-neutral changing areas, showers and restrooms, in addition to traditional-gendered locker rooms,\u201d Marks said.<\/p>\n \n\tDuring the 2025-26 academic year, the facility\u2019s busiest time of day was 5 to 8 p.m., Marks said, noting that traffic starts to increase around 3 p.m. and subsides after 9 p.m. \u201cMonday through Wednesday were similar in activity, and access declined slightly on Thursday and Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tGeneral building hours this summer are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and noon to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For pool, climbing wall, outdoor rental center, e-sports and other hours, visit the Campus Recreation website<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tAs far as new programs and classes coming online this fall, Marks said the Campus Recreation team is working to \u201cbuild on the lessons learned from the current year and make small adjustments to better serve the students and members.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\u2018Outstanding facility\u2019<\/p>\n \n\tStudent feedback on the facility thus far has been what he called \u201coverwhelmingly positive.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe remain committed to listening and responding to student input,\u201d he said, including \u201cworking closely\u201d with students and the Student Government Board to gather feedback. \u201cWe continue to make adjustments and implement changes where appropriate to enhance the student experience.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tMarks, who brought 25 years of campus recreation and student affairs experience when he came to Pitt in April 2025, said while he can\u2019t take credit for its original design and layout, the Recreation and Wellness Center is \u201ctruly is an outstanding facility.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cGiven the site constraints, the design team built vertically, creating multiple floors rather than a single large space, which is more typical of many recreation and fitness centers,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n \n\tThe approach allowed for development of 10 distinct activity zones and seven dedicated studios, each catering to different types of workouts and user preferences. \u201cAs a result, students can move fluidly throughout the facility or gravitate toward a specific area that best meets their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHe cited the inclusion of Pitt Wellness partners within the facility as another key strength.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHaving University Counseling Center staff and the Health Promotion team on-site enhances collaboration and allows them to build on the strong existing partnership with Campus Recreation,\u201d Marks said. \u201cThis proximity creates more opportunities for integrated programming and a more holistic approach to student well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAfter completing almost a full year of Rec and Wellness Center operations, Marks said it\u2019s \u201crewarding to be fully settled into the (center) and to draw upon that experience in both programming and facility management.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe initial uncertainties that come with launching a new facility have been significantly reduced, which positions the team well and should help alleviate stress as we move into our second year.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tShannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tHave a story idea or news to share? Share<\/a> it with the University Times.<\/p>\n