After taking a tour of the Student Recreation Center, the first facility element I would like to comment on is the accessibility of the building. Based on the fact that the building was built before ADA requirements were enacted, I see it being very difficult to adapt to said requirements and find it a possibility that the building is not up to date on ADA standards. There is one elevator that leads to all three levels of the building, but I did not see a ramp to use in case the elevator is out of order or there is an emergency such as a fire. I would recommend for one to be built or to find an alternative way for disabled users to move floors or exit the building. Take a look at this article found discussing new ADA requirements for Recreational Agencies. The SRC may be able to use some of these elements to adapt to new requirements.

The second facility element I would like to critique is the Cooper Pool adaptability. The additional seating that can be extended in the rock wall area for an audience is a useful way to maximize space. Although, this would hinder the use of the rock wall during those times, it gives the facility the capability to adjust to the needs of competition needs. This design feature is ideal for those wishing to view a swim competition; however is not ideal for rock climbing enthusiasts. I would recommend to relocate the rock wall into an unused squash room on a lower level of the building so that during swim meets, it is still accessible for use.  Or, perhaps a different building for “outdoor” type events such as a rock wall etc. could be used similar to Ohio State University’s Recreation Department.