- Olds-Robb Recreation-Intramural Complex
-
The Emu Rec/Im building
The Olds-Robb Recreation-Intramural Complex is Eastern Michigan University's recreation center. Today, The recreation serves 500,000 people a year and offers swimming, racquetball, volleyball, basketball, aerobics, billiards, table tennis, free weights, and other fitness machines.[1]
Contents
The Building
The building was built by the architect Ralph Calder and Associates from Detroit, Michigan and was opened in 1982.[2] The style of the architecture is Post modern architecture, and It cost 16.25 million to construct it. The building itself is five stories high, and it is connected to a building called Warner, where, club pool, sauna, and whirlpool are located. The building also contains racquetball courts which are located on the first floor, aerobics studios which are located on the second floor, basketball courts which are located on the third floor, an indoor running track and weight/cardio machines which are located on the fourth floor, and on the fifth floor there are meeting spaces and conference rooms.
History
The building was first called the The Llyod W. Olds Rec/IM. It named for Lloyd W. Olds, who graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1916. After receiving his PhD, he returned to the university, and he joined the Department of Physical Education. He coached the Eastern Michigan University track team, and also founded Eastern Michigan's most praised Intramural program during the 1920s. Olds also, originated the idea of a striped shirt for intramural officials.[3]
When the building was first built in 1892 it contained the largest indoor swimming pool in the state. The pool varied between 3 to 17 feet in depth. it was named after legendary EMU swim coach Michael H. Jones. Michael coached with the EMU swim team from 1956 until he retired in 1988. The Jones Pool is an Olympic-sized 50M pool with spring (1M and 3M) and platform (5M, 7M, and 10M) diving boards. It is the home to the EMU Swimming and Diving teams and numerous state and local swimming and diving competitions.[4]
The Building was remolded in 1991 with money from the proceeds of the Pro Shop and aerobics program revenue. These renovations included adding an aerobics studio, a second weight room, a new wrestling/combative room, courtside food concessions, and an improved and integrated Pro Shop. In 1992, there was construction on the ouside of the building to make an Outdoor recreational facililty by a man, who was a member of the Board of Regents,and who had long supported the Rec/IM. thsi man was Dr. Richard Robb, who after serving in the Army, graduated from Eastern Michigan University.[5] Robb supported Olds, and included/ contributed University Park, which was the Recreation Center's Out door facility. University park contains two lighted basketball courts, two lighted volleyball courts, a six foot deep lake with two fountains, and Big Bob's Lake House. In 1993, the Recreation Center was named Olds-Robb Recreation-Intramural Complex.
Hours of business
Monday - Thursday 6:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Friday 6:30 a.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Sunday Noon - 5:45 p.m.[6]
References
- ^ http://www.emich.edu/walkingtour/olds.htm
- ^ http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/article/2011/06/recim_director_retires
- ^ http://www.emich.edu/library/about/archives/campusbuilding.php?building_id=42
- ^ http://www.emich.edu/recim/jones.htm
- ^ http://www.emich.edu/library/about/archives/campus building.php?building_id=42
- ^ http://www.emich.edu/recim/
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
