Activities and Recreation Center (UIUC) facts for kids
| Location | 201 East Peabody Champaign, Illinois 61820  United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°06′05″N 88°14′10″W / 40.101313°N 88.236018°W |
| Owner | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
| Operator | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1971 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Tenants | |
| Illinois Fighting Illini women's swimming and diving (NCAA) | |
The Activities and Recreation Center, often called the ARC, is a huge sports and fun place at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's a special spot for university students, members, and guests. The university says it's "one of the country's largest on-campus recreation centers."
The ARC is also the main practice and competition area for the Illinois Fighting Illini women's swimming and diving team.
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Where to Find the ARC
The ARC is located at 201 East Peabody in Champaign, Illinois. It's close to Snyder Hall and Scott Hall. It's also about 500 meters from the newer Ikenberry Common. You can find it just north of Memorial Stadium (Champaign).
History of the ARC
The first recreation building on campus was called IMPE. It opened in 1971. The university always wanted a big, modern place for students to stay active.
Making it Bigger and Better
In 2008, the IMPE building got a big makeover. It was rebuilt and renamed the ARC. This happened because a group of students wanted more and better recreation options. They started a campaign called Bigger, Better, Campus Rec Renovation.
Students voted on a plan to add a small fee to their tuition. This money would help pay for the new building. It would create more space for sports and activities. It would also help with overcrowding. Most students, about 74%, voted yes to the plan.
The rebuilding project started on March 17, 2006. The new and improved ARC opened its doors in August 2008. The whole project cost $221 million.
What's Inside the ARC
The ARC is a very large building. It covers about 34,000 square meters. About 27,600 square meters are for dry sports like basketball. The other 6,400 square meters are for water activities.
Swimming Pools
The ARC has both indoor and outdoor pools.
- Indoor Pool: This pool is on the first floor. It's 50 meters long and 25 yards wide. It has eight lanes for swimming races. This is where the Illinois Fighting Illini women's swimming and diving team practices and competes. The indoor pool area is very large. It also has locker rooms, a sauna, and meeting rooms. There's even a Hall of Fame area for famous athletes.
- Diving Area: Right next to the indoor pool is a separate diving area. It has two one-meter springboards and two three-meter springboards. This is used by the diving team.
- Outdoor Pool: You can find an outdoor pool on the west side of the building. It's 50 meters long with four lanes. It also has its own diving area. This pool is usually open during summer and fall. It closes during winter and spring.
Gyms and Courts
The ARC has many gymnasiums for different sports.
- Gymnasium 1: This gym is on the first floor. It has five basketball courts. These can also be set up as seven volleyball courts. One court is often used for futsal, which is indoor soccer. This gym is popular for intramural sports. It has day lockers and a locker room nearby.
- Gymnasium 2 and 3: These gyms are also on the first floor, near the entrance. Each has two basketball courts. They can also be used as three volleyball courts. Gymnasium 3 often has four badminton courts set up. Both gyms have day lockers.
- Gymnasium 4: This gym is on the lower level. It has three basketball courts. These can also be used for volleyball. Day lockers are available here too.
Multipurpose Rooms
The ARC has seven multipurpose rooms and one combat room. These rooms are on the first floor and concourse level. They are used for many different things. Students can take dance classes here. Student clubs also use these rooms for their activities. The rooms come in different sizes. They all have storage areas for your belongings.
Lower Level Fun
The lower level of the ARC is where you'll find the weightlifting area. It has many free weights and exercise machines. There are also courts for racquetball and squash.
Other Cool Areas
Besides the main sports areas, the ARC has special spots. These include:
- A "Clement Auditorium"
- A student organization room
- A Group Cycling Room for spin classes
- An Instructional Kitchen where you can learn to cook
- A Personal Training Room
- A Climbing Wall for adventurers
- Three meeting rooms
The ARC also offers professional massages for an extra cost. You can also get athletic training and therapy for free. These services are provided by other groups.
Group Fitness Classes
Campus Recreation offers many group fitness classes. These are for all members. You can buy different passes, from yearly passes to single-use passes. There are many types of classes, like cardio, cycling, dance, strength, and water workouts. They often offer free classes at the start of each semester. Some classes you can just drop into, while others need a reservation.
Special Events at the ARC
Sometimes, parts of the ARC are reserved for special events. Schools, departments, and community groups can use the facilities. For example, career fairs often use a whole gymnasium. This means the gym is closed for a day or two for the event. All university students can attend these fairs. Other community events, like the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon, also use a gym for participants to pick up race materials.
The ARC also hosts a "Block Party" once a year. This happens during welcome week in the fall. Many groups from campus and town help with the event. They give out free T-shirts and pizza. They also organize games, music, and contests.
How Many People Use the ARC?
The ARC is one of the most popular places at the University of Illinois. Campus Recreation runs the ARC and other facilities like the Campus Recreation Center East (CRCE) and the Ice Arena. Over 42,000 students and 3,200 staff members use these places. In the 2014-2015 school year, 89% of Illinois students used Campus Recreation facilities or programs. Nearly 30,000 students played intramural sports. Also, 432 people had personal training sessions.
Awards
- 2010 Outstanding Sports Facility Award from the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association
Images for kids
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