Throughout the master planning process, it was important to develop a strategy that minimized the financial impact of all new facility projects on student fees.

The Wellness and Recreation Center capital debt fee was implemented Fall 2016 when the $45 per year Recreation Center capital debt fee was paid in full. The new $92.50 per year fee resulted in an increase of $47.50 in capital debt fees to fund the project.

In Fall 2015, Wellness and Recreation staff and student leaders worked collaboratively to prepare a formal recommendation to the Fee Review Committee.

On September 30, 2015, the Student Government Senate passed the Carmichael Addition and Renovation Fee Act supporting the indebtedness fee of $92.50 ($47.50 increase) that will fund the 82,823 sq. ft. project starting 2016-17. The support of the indebtedness fee is contingent upon the Division of Academic and Student Affairs agreeing to the following:

• Students will be involved in every step of the planning and completion of the project
• Reductions in the cost of the project due to changing interest rates, fundraising efforts, reduction of project scope or any other reason will be passed on to students in the form of the reduction of the student fee for the remainder of the fee’s term.
• The cost of membership for non-student members of Carmichael Complex is increased to equal the cost of student fees, including indebtedness fees, paid to Wellness and Recreation once the project is completed.

The indebtedness fee of $92.50 ($47.50 increase) to fund the 82,823 sq. ft. project was presented to the Fee Review Committee in October 2015.

Visioning Sessions and Carmichael BIG IDEAS Survey

On November 9, 2016, NC State and the project architects hosted four visioning sessions with students, faculty, staff and others to solicit ideas and feedback about the Carmichael Addition and Renovation Project (Wellness and Recreation Center). You can find presentation materials and themes of the sessions here.

In advance of the visioning sessions, the Carmichael BIG IDEAS survey was shared to more than 10,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, retirees and more to solicit additional ideas and feedback. The executive summary of results can be found here.

Student Voices Shaping the Project – How We Got Here

In Spring 2015, NC State hired HOK Architects, a leading collegiate recreation and wellness architecture firm to review, verify and update the project space planning assumptions and student needs.

During this study, Wellness and Recreation staff informed, engaged and invited the campus community to participate in project visioning sessions facilitated by the architects in February 2015. Wellness and Recreation staff presented the project to the Student Senate, President Roundtable, University Graduate Student Association, Inter-Residence Council, Wellness and Recreation Advisory Board and other student leadership organizations requesting their participation and feedback in visioning sessions. Through these sessions and meetings with campus stakeholders renderings and project funding options were developed.

Click here for complete HOK Carmichael Complex Addition and Renovation Study.

Visioning – Spring 2015

• The Wellness and Recreation Center project will shape the future of wellness and well-being on campus by unifying, celebrating and inspiring active lifestyles of NC State students, faculty, and staff.
• The success of the project begins with a clear primary entry that is inviting and inspiring. It must strive to unify the fitness space, increase visual access to destinations, and amplify street presence. The solution must be accessible, sensible, smart, sensitive to student fees and attentive to student safety.

Recreation and Wellness Survey – Spring 2015

The NASPA Recreation and Wellness benchmark survey was administered to 7,500 NC State students (20% response rate) in February 2015.

• 92% of students identified that improved recreation and fitness facilities are a “medium to high” priority in the next 5-10 years at NC State University.
• 71% of students determined that it would be “moderately to very helpful” toward their personal well-being to have access to health and wellness resources in one location (e.g., nutrition, physical activity, counseling services, career, financial).

View the complete 2015 Recreation and Wellness Survey results.

• As the home of Wellness and Recreation and Health and Exercise Studies, the Wellness and Recreation Center and Carmichael Gym sees more than 1.12 million visits annually.
• During a typical year, more than 80% of undergraduates and 50% of graduate students used the facilities.
• Employing more than 750 students, Wellness and Recreation is one of the largest employers of students on-campus with more than $1.4 million dollars of student fees returned to students via wages annually.
• Studies continue to show participation in university recreation and wellness centers is linked to student success, satisfaction, recruitment and retention.
• Wellness and Recreation will continue to play an important role in the health and wellness of students by reducing stress, anxiety and depression through physical activity and exercise.

Wellness and Recreation and the Division of Academic and Student Affairs will actively seek additional funding sources working with NC State University Development. Should additional funding become available, these gifts and donations will reduce student fees.

Similar to a home mortgage, the debt service fee will be in effect for 25 years.