Students, faculty and staff returning to campus will find a thoroughly modern facility for recreation and intramurals in the renewed and improved Hugh S. Greer Field House, Guyer Gymnasium and the Brundage Pool - which now include air conditioning and a brand new roof. The facility serves thousands of people from the University community each year.

Workers for Konover Construction Co. are putting the finishing touches on the $10 million renovation project, which was completed both on time and within budget.

A tour of the building, closed for the past 16 months, reveals a structure that bears little resemblance to its former self, other than the long, narrow corridors that parallel each other to the front and rear of the building. Between the walkways there are now six basketball courts, three hardwood and three with polymer surfaces; a three-lane indoor track; second-floor offices with huge windows overlooking the gym and Field House; and regulation racquetball and squash courts.

On three sides of Brundage Pool are floor-to-ceiling glass walls, two floors of fitness areas, complete with treadmills, stairmasters, upright and recumbent bicycles, and free weight areas. The pool features a new filtering system.

The building will offer new hours: It will be open weekdays from 6 a.m. until midnight; Saturdays from noon until 9 p.m.; and Sundays from noon until midnight.

Students with a valid identification card - which must be shown at the main entrance - may use the building without additional charge (a portion of the student fee covers their costs), while employees may purchase membership for $75 per semester.

Administrative officers will move into the building next week, with portions of the facility opening after that.

Richard Veilleux