William Paterson University broke ground on Oct. 17 for a $40 million state-funded transformation of the school’s existing sports and recreation center into a hub for the academic programs offered by the institution’s department of kinesiology along with construction of a wellness center and a natatorium. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2027.
Federal, local, and state officials were on hand to celebrate the project, which is funded with $40 million from the Educational Facilities Authority. It was recommended for legislative approval by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education awarded through a competitive call for proposals for capital improvements and technology infrastructure projects.
“This new Recreation and Health Sciences Center is truly a transformational project for William Paterson,” said William Paterson University President Richard J. Helldobler. “It will, of course, feature upgrades and additions to the complex’s traditional sports and recreation role, which will create a space to support comprehensive student wellbeing through our excellent Health and Wellness Center. Significantly, it will also leverage proximity to these facilities to create space and resources for the many related majors that are preparing our students for careers in the diverse allied health professions.”
Rep Nellie Pou (NJ-9) called the event “a day to reflect on all the priceless values of investing in education and our state’s future. William Paterson is a vital resource for our community and an incubator to extraordinary talent and potential…This future center tells our students that their futures are worth investing in and it tells educators and health care professionals that the tools that they need are being built.”
The overall facility, to be called the Recreation and Health Sciences Center, will be enhanced with a new 55,000-square-foot, two-story extension to the current Sports and Recreation Center that will more than double its size. The facility will provide classrooms, laboratories and other related spaces for the University’s bachelor’s degree programs in sports medicine, sport management, exercise physiology, and physical education, and master’s degree programs in athletic training, exercise physiology, and sport administration.
The first floor will house the university’s counseling, health, and wellness center, which will feature a health clinic with a dedicated women’s health center, a lab and pharmacy, and examination and counselor rooms. It will also feature a flexible space for group activities.
The second floor will provide facilities for the university’s Department of Kinesiology, including four classrooms, observation rooms, a dedicated space for athletic training, and faculty offices. It will also include a 25-meter natatorium with locker rooms for recreational and competitive swimming and a multipurpose academic gym, and additional flexible space for group activities.
The expansion will connect to the current Sports and Recreation Center, which houses the university’s main athletic arena and fitness facilities.
