Half Acre Gym, originally opened in 1925, is home to the Campus Recreation Department (Club Sports, Intramural Sports, Group Fitness, Aquatics, and the Outdoor Program). Half Acre hosts a number of academic courses annually (Kinesiology and Health, Theatre and Dance, ROTC, etc.) and is used by a variety of on and off-campus departments and groups on a regular basis. Current amenities include a pool, five racquetball courts, climbing wall, locker rooms, cardio-theater, circuit weight room, three basketball courts, indoor running track, fitness studio, dance studio, offices, instruction/training room, athletic training room and the infield work-out area with a variety of fitness and free-weight equipment.

The Half Acre renovation and expansion project has been approved and funded.  The Wyoming State Legislature approved $15 million in matching funds in their 2012 budget session; ASUW supported the renovation through a proposed mandatory student fee increase to cover the remaining $12 million in estimated project costs.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the 2013 spring semester with an estimated opening set for the fall 2014 semester.  Preliminary plans propose the following expanded and improved areas and activities in Half Acre Gym*:

• Improved accessibility:  The existing building is a four level structure (pool, first, second and third levels) without an elevator or other means of an accessible route.  In terms of complying with accessibility guidelines and providing efficient and convenient circulation for users to the upper floors, this is a major issue that needs to be resolved.
• Academic space including Kinesiology and Health laboratory and office space, an updated dance studio for Theater and Dance Courses, a classroom for academic courses as well as in-house training, and four new racquetball courts with glass back walls for observation and instruction.
• Expanded Outdoor Program space with a climbing wall located in the southeast corner of the building with a 35 foot tall pinnacle wall, serving as an eye-catching focal point both for the interior spaces and exterior campus as well as a separate entrance for ease in loading/unloading equipment.
• A significant increase in cardiovascular exercise and weight training areas including a new and improved large fitness area on the first floor and additional smaller, more private fitness spaces on the second and third floors.
• On the second floor, all court sports will be consolidated into one central location.  In addition to the traditional wood floor court of Half Acre, users will have access to a new Multi-Activity Court (MAC) gymnasium, as well as four new racquetball courts with glass back walls, additional fitness space and new group exercise rooms around the perimeter.
• The third floor will accommodate more fitness areas, updated and expanded group fitness rooms and dance studios, as well as a re-built and expanded walking/jogging track that surrounds both the historic gymnasium and the new MAC gym.
• New men's and women's locker rooms adjacent to the pool, as well as new assisted changing rooms and express lockers.
• The opportunity to integrate the seven aspects of wellness (physical, social, emotional, intellectual, occupational, spiritual and environmental) all under a single roof.

*These improvements are not finalized and may change during the final design planning process.

News and Events

• Branding Iron article, $27 million Half Acre face lift begins fall
• Funding for the Half Acre renovation and expansion project was approved in the 2012 Wyoming Legislative session.  Read about the ASUW students who played a key role in this process.
• ASUW visited Half Acre during one of their regular meetings on Oct. 4, read the Branding Iron article about the visit.
• The UW Trustees approved a state request for $12 mil. in matching funds.