The Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees has approved a plan to build a $28 million recreation center on its Jacksonville, Ala., campus.

The university says the 101,000-square-foot facility will have recreational gymnasiums, a weight and fitness area, a wellness center, an elevated walking track, racquetball courts, a small leisure pool and whirlpool, a 40-foot indoor climbing wall, group exercise studios, and locker rooms.

"We're excited about what we think will truly be a game-changing building for our students and our campus,” says President John M. Beehler. "It will establish a new gateway experience for campus visitors and make JSU more competitive for student recruitment and retention."

The university and Brailsford & Dunlavey, a development advisory firm, conducted numerous information-gathering activities on campus last fall to develop objectives and refine the concept for the Student Recreation Center.

Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2019. A mandatory student fee of $190 per semester will take effect in January 2019 to cover facility expenses.

The architect is Moody Nolan. When the facility is completed, it will be managed by CENTERS, a company that focuses on campus recreation for colleges and universities.