University of Alabama
Recreational Facilities Master Plan, Program of Architectural Requirements, and Business Plan
Tuscaloosa, AL
Brailsford & Dunlavey was retained by the University of Alabama in 1999 to complete a comprehensive recreational facilities master plan for all recreational facilities on its main campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Current and proposed facilities included a university golf course, a recreation center, an aquatic center, outdoor fields, and a tennis complex. The University of Alabama recognized that existing facilities could no longer meet the needs of the campus population, despite the fact that the Student Recreation Center was a former Athletic Business Facility of Merit award winner.
The plan included a 50,000 square foot addition to the existing 110,000 square foot Student Recreation Center, 12 new outdoor tennis courts, and a new outdoor aquatic center. The project would be funded with a new student fee of $70 per semester.
B&D was involved in two different phases of the projects. During Phase I, B&D's scope included a detailed market analysis of peer institutions; concept development focus groups; off-campus health club analysis; a telephone survey to assess student, faculty, and staff demand for recreational activities and services; demand-based programming of activities based on the telephone survey; and the development of an outline program reconciling demand with current supply. The telephone survey included testing student, faculty, and staff tolerances for various fee levels. During Phase II, B&D developed a detailed program of architectural requirements as well as a business plan defining the operational plan and organizational structure of the Recreation Department. In addition, B&D managed the entire architectural selection and was involved in design review and the procurement of furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
The new outdoor tennis courts were completed in the fall of 2000; the new outdoor aquatic center opened in the summer of 2003; and the renovation and expansion of the Student Recreation Center was completed in the summer of 2004. The $18.7 million project earned the B&D team several awards, including a 2005 Outstanding Sports Facility award (NIRSA) and a 2006 Architectural Showcase award (Athletic Business Magazine).
