Five Years of Wellness and Recreation: Facilities, Events, and Community Impact

NC State University’s Wellness and Recreation Center will celebrate its five-year anniversary Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, marking half a decade of service as a central hub for student fitness, wellness and community engagement. Over the past five years, the Wellness and Recreation Center has established itself as the central hub for movement and community, hosting millions of visits and seeing usage from nearly 75% of NC State students in a single academic year.

State-of-the-Art Facilities and Architectural Design

The 92,000-square-foot building added indoor and outdoor functional training areas, a climbing center with a bouldering cave, a fully-functional teaching kitchen and a multilevel turf sprint ramp. Regarding architectural excellence in the sector, the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center also serves as a formal and informal gathering space for community groups and residents. The design takes advantage of the site by nestling the gymnasium into the raised topography along the south to create a protected courtyard at the east and an entry plaza to the north. Three materials define the building’s exterior palette: precast concrete, glass, and brick. This spine provides space for a climbing wall, gaming zones, and strength and cardio areas at the upper level, while the upper level track encircles the gym with direct access to the fitness areas.

Wellness Center Design Awards and Recognition

• 2023: American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter Impact Award, Merit Award.
• 2021: American Institute of Architects, Central States Region Honor Award.
• 2020: American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter Honor Award.
• 2020: American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter People's Choice Award.
• 2020: Masonry Institute of Iowa Appreciation Award.

Anniversary Calendar of Events: Celebrating the 5-Year Milestone

The following events are scheduled to celebrate this landmark achievement:

• Sunday, October 26 – Boulder Bash: Join us from noon – 4 p.m. for the annual Halloween-themed bouldering competition. The competition is open to climbers of all levels, with separate categories for beginners, intermediate, and advanced participants.
• Monday, October 27 – Red and White Wellness Day: Participate in the “Find the Wolf” Scavenger Hunt or join the Pedal with your Pack themed cycling classes at 4:30 p.m. or 6:15 p.m. for a high-energy workout powered by a playlist of pump-up songs.
• Tuesday, October 28 – Throwback Tuesday: Stop by our facility to see our “Then and Now” photo digital screen displays and see the evolution of our building. Participate in the Why I Love WellRec Instagram Challenge for a chance to win a prize pack.
• Wednesday, October 29 – Happy Anniversary Celebration: Enjoy music by DJ Ed Luva and Anniversary Cookies from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 30 – Member Appreciation: Join us for the Move With Your Body In Mind Workshop from 2 – 3 p.m., a restorative class that blends gentle movement and mindfulness to release tension.
• Friday, October 31 – Homecoming Game Day Warm-up: Faculty and staff are invited to explore our facilities. Also, join us for the Spooky Cardio Dance Class; costumes are encouraged!

UA Plumbers Local 5 Medical Fund Health & Wellness Centers

For skilled members and the community, professional health services are available at the following locations:

• Lanham Wellness Center: 4755 Walden Lane, Lanham, MD 20706. Phone: (240) 436-2840. Hours of Operation: Mon 8 am – 6 pm, Tues 7 am - 5:00 pm, Wed 8 am – 6 pm, Thurs 7 am – 5:00 pm, Fri 8 am – 1 pm.
• White Plains Wellness Center: 4475 Regency Place, Ste. 206, White Plains, MD 20695. Phone: (301) 476-0181. Hours of Operation: Mon 9 am – 6 pm, Tues 7 am - 4:00 pm, Wed 9 am – 6 pm, Thurs 7 am – 4:00 pm, Fri 8 am – 12 pm.