CannonDesign and UC-Riverside share insights on facility renovation

In the on-demand webinar “Renovate, Recreate, and Flourish,” a panel of experienced design and campus rec professionals outline the nuanced decisions and essential strategies to consider behind successful renovation projects for any part of a recreation facility.

The session, hosted by NIRSA Silver Partner CannonDesign, emphasizes that thoughtful planning and clear institutional priorities can transform outdated spaces into vibrant community hubs that provide solutions for modern student needs.

Campus recreation professionals who have a NIRSA profile, regardless of their individual membership status, can view a recording of the webinar for free by registering at NIRSA Learning.

Why renovate?

Recreation Director at University of California-Riverside Lindy Fenex, PhD begins the webinar by overviewing the drivers of renovation, which include outdated infrastructure, capacity needs, functional and physical obsolescence, and evolving trends like the boom in functional training and pickleball.

“At the director level, I think maybe the most critical piece to look at is your financial position,” Lindy says. “You need to have a plan for how you fund your project: Will you do it with reserve funds, will you need to do a student referendum, can you do it by revenue generation with your finished project? You need to understand what resources you have available.”

User surveys, benchmarking tools like NIRSA’s space planning guidelines, and ongoing attention to evolving programming needs help campus leaders prioritize renovation goals with real data.

Jenny Delgado, AIA, LEED AP, CannonDesign Principal, Sports, Recreation, and Wellness, emphasizes that institutions must weigh multiple options—from cosmetic refreshes to full-scale gut renovations or even new construction. She explains renovation is a great choice to revamp underutilized space, in urban settings with limited land, or where sustainability and cost-efficiency are key. But renovation can sometimes be more expensive than new construction, and facility audits are an essential step if you want to avoid hidden costs.

Functional space vs. physical obsolescence: The sexy and the necessary

Modern renovation efforts are focused on flexibility, transparency, and universal access. This includes reclaiming underutilized spaces—such as converting racquetball courts into spin studios or fitness areas—and creating new environments for social engagement, preventative care, and holistic wellness.

But balancing physical costs with the “sexier” functional programming improvement costs is essential, according to Lindy and Colleen McKenna, AIA, LEED AP, CannonDesign Sports, Recreation, and Wellness Director. They stress that a facilities’ physical condition must be examined to ensure structural integrity and withstand the long-term success of a project. Adding natural light and addressing issues in updated building codes, seismic improvements, mechanical elements, electrical challenges, and plumbing updates are essential.

“I would say the most challenging aspects of campus recreation facility renovation that we come across are mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems,” Colleen says. “If you do a major renovation, it is very likely that you will trigger upgrades to the building systems that are hidden in the walls, so we always recommend our clients start with a facility audit and really understand the condition of the building because [those upgrades] can be a significant investment.”

Colleen recommends all campus rec leaders partner with facilities departments to examine deferred maintenance projects (new roof, HVAC updates, etc.) that have already been identified in a budget and tie them to the renovation schedule.

Designing for today’s students

The three speakers examine priority trends in key spaces across modern campus rec facilities, including:

• Social spaces: Areas to encourage student community and engagement can’t be limited to the front desk. Carve out public spaces wherever you can.
• Gyms/Multi-Activity Courts (MACS): The push for facility rental and revenue generation makes exterior access and storage space key.
• Weights/fitness/functional training: “We just can’t build enough of it at any institution, no matter the scale and size,” Colleen says, highlighting growing demand for “fitness neighborhoods.” “A building that’s 25 years old might have a single, dedicated box, and when we think about a renovation, we’re often finding ways where we can capture space throughout the building and create those unique experiences throughout.”
• Group fitness/mind-body: Smaller classes lead to a more personalized experience for students, but well-designed storage, sound isolation, and ventilation are essential to these spaces.
• Locker rooms/amenities: Cabana-style, single-user changing rooms and improved grooming areas are now expected features, though they can come with structural grid and plumbing challenges.
• Aquatics: Campuses rethinking pool configurations need to consider prioritizing competitive, leisure, or mixed-use while optimizing sun exposure and safety.
• Outdoor pursuits: Increased demand for outdoor recreation requires organized and accessible areas for prep kitchens, cleaning, and equipment storage. Climbing/bouldering areas may need to be separated from other outdoor pursuits to ensure indoor/outdoor access for trips and adventure programs.
• Outdoor functional areas: To Lindy, this is clearly now a personal fitness trend and not a passing fad. He partnered with UC-Riverside’s athletics department to renovate an outdoor obstacle course on an athletic field; by creating an MOU for shared use, he was able to eliminate an “eyesore for the campus.”
• Technology: With the pace of technological growth, tech renovations can -cost less than today than they did during the time of original construction projects.
• Wellbeing/mental health integration: Facilities are increasingly carving out space for demonstration kitchens, counseling services, basic needs suites, and wellbeing educational opportunities. “Without question, one of the biggest impacts on renovation today is any convergence with bringing in those preventative care services,” Colleen says.

Across all areas, the presenters emphasize the need to balance aesthetics and user experience with behind-the-scenes infrastructure and code compliance.

Practical advice from UC-Riverside

Lindy shares several renovation case studies from his campus. This included a spin studio created by repurposing a racquetball court for under $15,000—an in-house project that added high-demand programming and included lighting, sound, mirrors, and acoustic treatment. He also emphasized the importance of visual openness in facility design, echoing student preferences for welcoming, barrier-free spaces.

Jenny reminds webinar attendees of the need to plan ahead: In UC-Riverside’s case, it took three years from the passing of their referendum to secure the funding and another four years until the building opened. Contingencies should be built into any budget to manage unforeseen costs.

Jenny and Lindy also provide tips for keeping buildings open during construction, with advanced notification, ADA/fire access, summer construction, and temporary fitness spaces as stand-out considerations. Planning for disruptions and encouraging patience help smooth over staffing challenges in tight quarters and grumpy patrons amid dust and noise.

The webinar empowers campus rec professionals to make informed, student-focused renovation decisions while preparing for the financial and structural realities of transforming aging spaces into future-ready facilities. “Renovate, Recreate, Flourish” offers a practical and inspiring roadmap for delivering impactful renovation projects that truly serve campus communities. Thanks to CannonDesign for sponsoring this webinar for NIRSA audiences.