The $56-million renovation and expansion doubled the size of the 25-year-old recreation center and included partial demolition and nearly 200,000 sq ft of new construction.

An elevated indoor track spans a third of a mile. Also added: a 35-ft-high climbing wall, a 20-degree turf ramp that runs 27 yd from the second to third floor and, outside, two lap pools and a leisure pool that are among the largest in the Southeastern Conference.

The team overcame many hurdles. In August 2016, a 1,000-year flood in the area required extensive dewatering to mitigate rising water from the nearby Mississippi River. That task required extensive overtime and several scheduling changes. Additional challenges included establishing schedules for precise deliveries, careful phasing to take advantage of school breaks and working within a busy, occupied facility. Crews worked more than 400,000 hours with no lost-time accidents.

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