William Paterson University held a groundbreaking on Friday, October 17 for a $40 million state-funded transformation of the institution’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 new wellness center and a natatorium.

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 High 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. We know that these fields are a cornerstone of the New Jersey economy and are growing increasingly important each year, so this project supports both William Paterson’s strategic goal of further aligning our programs with the State’s workforce needs and – again, critically for a public investment in a public institution – Governor Murphy’s record of prioritizing public health and wellness for all New Jerseyans.”

Congresswoman 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.” She continued, “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 new Recreation and Health Science Center isn’t just about brick and mortar, it’s about connecting education, health, and community wellbeing and committing those resources to achieve lasting change. That is what great universities do.”

New Jersey Lt. Governor Tahesha L. Way said, “This groundbreaking marks an exciting investment in the future of William Paterson University and in the growth of its students. Our Administration is proud to support the launch of the new Recreation and Health Sciences Center – a hub for innovation in sports medicine, kinesiology, and wellness. As the wife of a retired professional athlete, I know how essential these fields are for those in physically demanding professions. This facility will be more than a place to learn – it will be a space for the WP community to come together and take care of themselves.”

New Jersey State Senator Benjie Wimberly (NJ-35), who was unable to attend the event, sent remarks expressing his pride in the project as a William Paterson alumnus and former student-athlete. “I stand with you in spirit not just as a policymaker, but as a producer of the institution’s mission to transform potential into purpose. This university gave me my foundation, it helped shaped my character, my calling, and my capacity to serve, and today it continues to shape futures across our region. This expansion is more than a construction project. It is a pioneering step forward.”

New Jersey Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz (NJ-35), also a William Paterson alumnus, shared remarks as well, calling the day a full-circle moment. “As a proud William Paterson University alumnus, I’m honored to see my alma mater continue to lead with vision and purpose,” he said. “This new Recreation and Health Sciences Center represents more than just a state-of-the-art facility. It’s an investment in our students, our workforce, and the future of New Jersey. William Paterson has always been a place where opportunity meets ambition, and this project will ensure that tradition continues for generations to come.”

Myles Bowery, a second-year graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in athletic training at William Paterson, spoke on behalf of students who will use the building in the future. “I am proud to be a graduate student at an institution that is looking forward to providing facilities that meet the broad needs of its students, from academic programs in allied health fields such as kinesiology, to enhanced athletic and recreational opportunities and services such as the Counseling, Health, and Wellness Center that support student health and wellness. I look forward to the benefits this new Recreation and Health Sciences Center will bring to generations of William Paterson students, and to the role it will play in supporting allied health academic programs and health and wellness programs that serve the entire campus community.”

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 new modern 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 state-of-the-art 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 seamlessly connect to the current Sports and Recreation Center, which houses the University’s main athletic arena and fitness facilities. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2027.

Other officials on hand for the event included:

Melanie Holmes on behalf of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill; Thomas Adamo, Passaic County Sheriff; Orlando Cruz, Passaic County Commissioner and president of the Paterson Chamber of Commerce; Rodney DeVore, Passaic County Commissioner and dean of students at Passaic County Technical Institute; Danielle Ireland-Imhoff, Passaic County Clerk; Zoila Cassanova, Surrogate Judge of Passaic County; Shona Mack-Pollard, Passaic County Superintendent of Elections; Louis Imhoff, Clerk to the Passaic County Board of Commissioners; Humberto Cuadrado, Commissioner, New Jersey Puerto Rico Commission and retired Passaic County Undersheriff; Yvette Roland, chief of staff for New Jersey State Senator Benjie Wimberly; Marylin Frierson, legislative aide, New Jersey Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter; Andre Sayegh, Mayor of Paterson; and Michael Johnson, Mayor of Haledon.