After two years of construction, the Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation is almost complete. Slated to open over the summer of 2013, this three-story, 145,000 square-foot building will provide incredible new facilities for student wellness, recreation and athletics. The building replaces the Ovens Athletic Center, which was demolished in 2011 to make way for the new facility.  Students, faculty and staff all agree: the new Levine Center can't get here soon enough!

"The Levine Center will change the way we, as a community, experience wellness," said Bill Nichols, Queens' vice president for campus planning. "It's more than a gym and it's not just for athletes.  Rather, it's a place for our entire community and I expect it to become the heartbeat of the campus."

Dr. Brian Ralph, Queens' vice president for enrollment management, agrees. "The entire student body, as well as faculty and staff, will be able to take advantage of the Levine Center.  We expect students will not only use the facility to pursue wellness and recreation, but also as a place to gather, study, relax and cheer on the Royals."

The Levine Center will deliver a tremendous boost to Queens' NCAA Division II athletics program, as student athletes will benefit from new facilities including a sports performance center and sports medicine/athletic training area.  Each sport will enjoy its own individual locker rooms (and so will the visiting teams). 

"The Levine Center will change the way we, as a community, experience wellness. It's more than a gym and it's not just for athletes.  Rather, it's a place for our entire community and I expect it to become the heartbeat of campus life." 

- Bill Nichols, Queens' vice president for campus planning

One of the most exciting features of the new facility is the performance gym with its three side-by-side basketball/volleyball courts. Moveable walls and retractable bleachers will allow the space to accommodate intramurals and Royals' basketball and volleyball practices simultaneously, making the facility accessible to the entire university community.

A brand new aquatic center with a stretch pool and a moveable bulkhead will be used by the men's and women's swim teams, as well as for physical education classes and recreational swimming and intramurals. 

In addition, the Levine Center includes a fully-equipped, 5,000-square-foot fitness center for use by the university community.  The fitness center will feature the very latest cardiovascular machines, strength equipment, free weights and a functional training area for stretching, core exercise and flexibility development. It will also boast a sound-system and both wall-mounted and machine-mounted TVs.   

Other building features include a two-lane indoor walking/jogging track and studios for dance, group fitness and spin classes. Queens' new kinesiology program will be housed in the Levine Center as well, and will enjoy new classrooms, faculty offices and a kinesiology laboratory. 

The building is named for legendary local philanthropists Leon and Sandra Levine through a generous donation from The Leon Levine Foundation.

What's Inside?

• Three basketball/volleyball courts
• 33-meter stretch pool
• 5,000-square-foot fitness center
• Dance and fitness studios
• Spin bike studio
• Indoor walking track
• Sports performance center for student athletes
• Sports medicine room
• Food venue and student lounge
• Banquet hall
• 16 locker rooms
• Classrooms
• Meeting space
• Offices for coaches and PE faculty

Time Lapse Video

Levine Construction Photos