Equipment improvements at West U recreation center now altered to begin in October

The start date for construction and equipment upgrades at the West University Place Recreation Center has been updated to Oct. 19, according to a presentation showcased at a July 27 City Council meeting.

Construction was formerly anticipated to begin in September.

In case you missed it

On Monday, West U officials received updates on the facility’s renovation plans from Parks and Recreation Director Susan White and PGAL Architects representative Justine Markowski.

PGAL Architects, a company that has completed work for the city before, is the design firm tasked with handling the project.

Both White and Markowski shared with the council that since their last update presented at an April 13 meeting, project designers finalized several areas of design development such as the facility’s color scheme, floor plan, architectural finishes and relocation of certain mechanical equipment to make room for new machinery.

After discussing matters related to the plans, council members greenlit a $389,852.80 expenditure from the Friends of West University Parks Fund, a volunteer-based organization dedicated to improving city spaces through fundraising, to purchase the incoming cardio and fitness equipment.

The council then voted unanimously to award the over $350,000 contract to Texas-based equipment provider Marathon Fitness.

How we got here

Community Impact previously reported that in 2024, West U officials began considering potential upgrades to the local recreation center as part of the city’s Facilities Master Plan.

This led to a public survey being conducted in early 2025 where residents were asked to voice what specific changes to the space they wanted to see. The survey’s results indicated that the recreation center’s cardio and weight room, along with its set of racquetball courts, were among the most desired areas to be improved according to residents.

The Parks and Recreation board and the City Council ultimately chose to prioritize upgrading the cardio and weight room first, which is why in February, council members approved the department’s recommendation to expand it.

This expansion is to be achieved through a complete renovation of the facility’s second floor, which includes, but is not limited to, the addition of new, state-of-the-art fitness equipment.

Another change

Prior to West U officials’ approval of the purchase and contract, Markowski addressed previous concerns voiced by council members during the April meeting regarding increased noise levels at the facility as a result of added equipment.

The PGAL Architects official said an acoustical study had been conducted in the existing space since then, which recorded sound readings measuring between 65 and 68 decibels. Physical engineers of the project estimated that, if no acoustical treatments were implemented in the space, sound readings for the new facility would increase to a 70 to 75 decibel range.

Thus, to lower the recreation center’s noise levels, project designers developed plans for physical treatments to be added to the space to ensure that it is hitting less than 55 decibels, according to presentation details.

Markowski said these plans will include the removal of a portion of the recreation center’s drop ceiling and replacing it with an exposed ceiling, which will add approximately 4 feet to the underside of the deck. The ceiling will then be sprayed with a pigmented K-13 acoustical spray designed to absorb sound waves and reduce echo.

“We are targeting less than 55 decibels in order to have normal conversations at the reception,” Markowski noted. “So, we are designing to be better than what we currently are.”

Paired with other design plans to add drop pendant-style lighting and same-colored equipment, Markowski said that the K-13 spray will match the recreation center’s upgraded aesthetic and contribute to a more “industrial, modern feel.”

What happens next?

The permitting process for plans related to the recreation center is set to begin July 28, with bidding slated for a separate date of Aug, 17, per the presentation.

Although its construction start date was altered, the project will still be completed in two phases to minimize disruptions and preserve access to fitness equipment throughout the incoming changes.

White said that the first phase is expected to begin this fall with a completion date of May 1. The second phase will begin sometime in early 2027, Community Impact previously reported.