Campus Recreation is a part of the Division of Student Affairs, with offices located in the Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall.

History

Recreation Center

The Department of Campus Recreation began operating out of McCormick Hall in the 1960s, providing recreation opportunities for the student population of Illinois State University. The program moved to 220 North Main Street in Normal, which later served as the Outdoor Adventure Center. After a search for a larger facility, Campus Recreation found a new home at the site of a former ice rink on the corner of Beech and Willow Streets. ^[1]

After significant renovations, the Student Recreation Building opened on March 14, 1988. This new facility provided space for cardio and weight training, racquetball, sport courts, and group fitness programming. The building also served as the home for Recreation Services, as it was known at that time, until its closure on December 15, 2010. ^[2]

The department is currently known as Campus Recreation, and resides in the Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall, enjoying its home in the heart of campus. ^[3]

In May 2006, Illinois State University Board of Trustees authorized $2.2M in funding to enable Illinois State to establish budgets, appoint architectural and Engineering consultants, conduct feasibility studies, and initiate the design process for the new Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall. The Board of Trustees approved the construction of the Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall at a cost of $43.9 million on October 26, 2007. By July 2008, the project amount had increased to $49.6M. In 2008, Dunn-Barton residence halls were razed to make way for the Student Fitness Center. Pieces from the residence hall buildings were retained and used as features in the new Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall, serving as a reminder of our history. The 170,000 square foot facility was planned to house Campus Recreation, Health Promotion and Wellness, and the School of Kinesiology and Recreation. ^[4]

The new facility consists of basketball courts, cardio/strength training areas, an indoor track, group fitness spaces, a pool and a climbing wall. The center also includes classrooms, laboratories, and office space for the School of Kinesiology and Recreation. The design phase was anticipated to take approximately 20 months, with construction expected to take approximately two years beginning in fall of 2008. Construction of the project was completed in fall 2010, and hosted a special student preview event on January 9, 2011 before officially opening on January 10. ^[5]

McCormick Hall

McCormick Hall was named after Henry McCormick in 1930 and was opened in 1925. Henry McCormick was a "beloved and respected teacher of history and geography" who came to Illinois State in 1869. He became Vice President in 1892, taught until 1901, and served as Vice President until his retirement in 1912. ^[6]

McCormick Hall was originally built as a gymnasium. By 1958, the needs of the student population had increased and exceeded the constraints of the facility and McCormick Hall underwent remodeling in 1961. With the construction of the Student Fitness Center, McCormick Hall underwent extensive changes. Re-opening in January 2011, the building maintained its historic façade on the exterior, while providing a variety of interior changes to create a state-of-the-art learning facility for Illinois State students. ^[7]

Fitness Classes

Athletic Yoga

Be prepared to sweat in this athletic-based mind/body class, improving more than just flexibility and balance. The class will focus on functional movement, involving multi-planar, multi-joint movements which place demand on the body’s core.

Aqua Zumba

The fitness craze that fuses Latin-based rhythms with motivating music, unique moves, and challenging combinations in the pool. It’s low impact so it’s easy on your body.

Ballett Barre Toning

This class is based on ballet barre exercises, but with a twist! The focus will be on toning and strengthening your legs, glutes and core in new and exciting ways. No previous dance experience needed.

Black Light Ride

Traditional cycle class, but with black lights.

Cardio Sculpt

With the utilization of speed, power and agility, this class will help you to get to the next level. The class will incorporate cardio and strength, and utilize equipment including kettlebells, dumbbells, bands, jump ropes and more.

Circuit Training

This class provides a full body workout, moving from one station to another for a set period of time using various cardio and strength techniques.

Crunch Time

Crunch time is for those in a time crunch! This twenty minute class is a non-stop workout that concentrates on strengthening and sculpting your core muscles.

Cycle

This indoor cycling class consists of varying speeds, resistance levels and intensities targeted at raising your heart rate and strengthening your lower body while taking you through a variety of sprints and hills.

Friday Flow Yoga

Relax and unwind from the stress of the week in this mind/body class designed to improve flexibility, balance, muscular strength and endurance.

Hard Core

A thirty minute workout designed to strengthen and sculpt your core muscles.

INSANITY

Made popular by Sean T’s home INSANITY program, this explosive and effective cardio-based, total-body conditioning class will take your workout to the next level.

Interval Training

A high intensity, cardio based class that alternates between low and high intensity intervals, with longer and slower intervals for recovery time. This class keeps your heart pumping and your body working from start to finish.

Kettlebells

This fast paced, high intensity, total body workout utilizes kettlebells to help you reach your fitness goals.

Kettlebells Boot Camp

This is an intensified kettlebells class with a boot camp atmosphere.

Kickboxing

A non-stop high intensity workout featuring kickboxing, athletic training and plyometrics set to heart pounding music. This class includes aerobic and anaerobic threshold training to push your cardiovascular system to a place it has never gone before.

Pilates

This class focuses on core strength, flexibility and balance. Enhance the connection between your mind and body while increasing your energy.

Pilates Yoga Fusion

Combining the core-focused strength of Pilates with the fluidity of yoga, this workout results in a lean and chiseled physique.

Race and Rip

This all-encompassing class will take you through a cycling workout to build your cardio, and a strength workout to tone your muscles. Look for intervals of cycling followed by body sculpting strength workouts.

Relaxation Yoga

This class focuses on flexibility and deep breathing to unwind and de-stress the body after a long day.

Restorative Yoga and Meditation

A gentle yoga class focusing on stretching, relaxing and meditation. Leave feeling refreshed, restored and renewed.

Strength and Stretch

This class includes the components of a strength based or toning class while incorporating the deep stretching you would see in a yoga class.

Total Body Toning

Increase your muscular strength and endurance while learning proper form and technique. This class will utilize a variety of strength equipment including barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells and more.

TRX Suspension Training

The TRX Suspension Trainer allows you to be in control of your entire workout. Whether you are looking to build muscle, tone-up, lose weight, or are just looking for the next challenge, TRX Suspension Training will help get you there. Expect an all core, all the time type of workout.

Turbo Kick

A fun class that takes kickboxing to a whole new level! Specially choreographed music and routines allow for an easy to learn workout that is challenging and upbeat.

Yoga

This mind body class does more than improve flexibility. Gain balance, core strength, muscular strength and endurance; and leave feeling relaxed.

Zumba

The fitness craze that fuses Latin-based rhythms with motivating music, unique moves, and challenging combinations. ^[8]

Intramurals

The Intramural program within Campus Recreation provides an avenue for Illinois State students and faculty/staff to take part in a variety of recreational sporting events individually or as a member of a team. A wide variety of events are offered and can be either short-term tournaments or weekly leagues for men’s, women’s or corec participants. Activities are also designed to accommodate a variety of skill levels. ^[9]

Intramural Handbook

[1]

Sports Clubs

The list of sports clubs at Illinois State University includes; Badminton, Baseball, Basketball (Women's), Cheerleading, Cross Country, Dance, Equestrian, Fencing, Fishing, Golf, Handball, Ice Hockey, Men and Women's Lacrosse, Paintball, Quidditch, Roller Hockey, Men and Women's Rugby, Men and Women's Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Triathlon, Men and Women's Ultimate Disc, Men and Women's Volleyball, Men and Women's Water Polo, Wrestling. ^[10]

Facilities

Student Fitness Center The Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall will provide a wealth of opportunities for the Illinois State University community for years to come. This state-of-the-art 170,000 square foot facility serves as the home for Campus Recreation, Health Promotion and Wellness, and the School of Kinesiology and Recreation. Tours of the facility are available. Visit the Bob and Julie Dobski Welcome Center in the main lobby for more information.

This section highlights important facility information including hours, virtual tours, parking information, and history. Whether you are enjoying a workout in this expansive facility, learning in a state-of-the-art classroom, or taking advantage of everything else the complex offers, you'll soon see how the Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall contributes to the overall campus experience and the continued excellence of Illinois State University. [2]

Horton Field House Horton Field House was named after Dr. Clifford "Pops" Horton, director of the men's Health and Physical Education Department at Illinois State for 33 years. He served at the University from 1923-1961 and Horton Field House opened in 1963. It was the first major building on the West campus - a field house for men's physical education, which replaced McCormick Gym. The field house contains 8,000 seats.

Gregory Street Fields Located just west of the D.A. Weibring Golf Club, the Gregory Street Fields are home to many of our outdoor intramural activities as well as practice and competition space for the Sport Club Program. Spanning over 17 acres, this area was part of a recent enhancement project which created additional necessary field space and can be utilized for six softball or flag football fields, three soccer fields, and a sport club multipurpose field. This project also added a retention basin to the area that will assist in field drainage, allowing for maximum field usage. ^[11]