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William Paterson University will break ground in late May 2025 on a $40 million state-funded transformation of the institution’s existing Sports and Recreation 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.
The project is funded with $40 million from the Educational Facilities Authority that 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.
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.
President Richard J. Helldobler said, “We are grateful for the public support of this transformational project, which will serve the people of New Jersey by creating a multifaceted facility that integrates sports, recreation, and related academic programs and leverages William Paterson’s position as one of the state’s leading healthcare educators.”
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-yard 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.
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