Breaking Grounds
The Mizzou Recreational Center is one of the largest facilities located on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia with almost 300,000 square feet. It contains many facilities and has received high recognition and awards making it a selling point for perspective students. MizzouRec and services aims to provide students and the community with the opportunity to lead healthy and active lives as well as enjoy leisure experiences. The Rec coordinators and employees strive to be the best recreational organization as possible while maintaining their philosophy of “Maximum Participation”.
The Rec Center offers many services including performance studios, a track, sport courts, a rock climbing wall, an indoor and outdoor pool and spa. Along with the workout areas and Aquatic Center, the complex features historical aspects known as the Rothwell Gymnasium, Brewer Fieldhouse and Stankowski Field.
The Rec Center that is recognized by students, alumni and Columbia’s community today can be traced back to 1892 when a proclamation, by Gideon F. Rothwell, was made to let the historical columns of Mizzou remain after a local fire. One of the capacities that make up today’s Rec Center is Rothwell Gymnasium. The gym was built in 1905 as a men’s physical education and athletic facility. Although there have been several renovations and additions to the gym, it still remains part of the Rec Center today.
Rothwell Gymnasium
In 1911, when Chester L. Brewer, MU’s athletic director, encouraged alumni to come back to Mizzou for the football game against the Kansas Jayhawks, he began the tradition of Homecoming. The construction of Brewer Fieldhouse was completed in 1930 and aimed to serve the purpose of hosting Tiger Athletics as well as special events. Soon after establishment it became the social center of campus. Connected to Rothwell Gymnasium, Brewer Fieldhouse was the next addition to the Student Recreational Center that stands today. It has developed from dirt floors and a wooden track into hardwood courts and a raised rubber track.
Brewer Fieldhouse
Strengthening their Students
Recreational Demand
As the popularity of Rothwell Gymnasium and Brewer Fieldhouse increased, MU students found it hard to be able to schedule recreational time. In 1986, a referendum was passed by the Mizzou student body, which led to the creation of the Mizzou Recreation Center. The new addition was added to the west side of the Brewer Fieldhouse and was opened in 1989.
Stankowski Field
Between the years of 1996 and 2000, student opinion began to grow stronger on the lack of fitness areas and leisure activities on campus. This caused for studies to be made and ideas to be generated on the creation of student rec spaces. In 2001, a referendum for a major expansion to the recreational facilities was created and passed by the Missouri Students Association, or MSA. The year 2003 marked the beginning of the physical construction of the $50 million Rothwell Gymnasium and Brewer Fieldhouse Expansion and Renovation Project. The Jungle Gym, Pump Room, Downtown Brewer, or spa, Aquatic Center and other spaces ended the completion of the project in 2005. That year, Sports Illustrated ranked the Mizzou Recreational Center number one in the nation.
Before Stankowski Field, also known to students as “Stank”, was constructed in 1996, the area was known as Rollins Field. As a more updated and useful outdoor arena the creation of Stankowski would offer students three turf fields, a track, restrooms and lights. It was named after former MU athlete Anton Stankowski who later became the director of the University’s intramural athletic program for nearly 40 years.
One Mizzou
Today, the facility stands tall and welcomes thousands of student’s and locals into its historical complex everyday. Many may see the Rec Center as an award-winning accomplishment, but what the other half sees is the history that it has brought to the University.
