UT To Hold Grand Opening for Benson Alex Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center on Monday, March 21

The University of Tampa will hold a grand opening of the Benson Alex Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center with a brief ceremony and tours on Monday, March 21, at 11 a.m.

Riseman Center rendering The center is for the exclusive use of UT students, as well as faculty and staff.

The Benson Alex Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center is centrally located on the UT campus on Spaulding Avenue, just west of the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values.

The center, named after UT alumnus and longtime supporter Benson Riseman '78, serves as a one-stop shop for all fitness programs, personal training and evaluation, wellness and nutrition programs, intramurals, recreation activities, club sports and some exercise-related laboratory and research activities.

The Fitness and Recreation Center opened in September 2016. Construction of the expansion started in October 2020 and added:

More workout spaces and state-of-the-art equipment, including dedicated areas for free weights and strength training
Academic classrooms (including two 70-seat classrooms), faculty offices and student study spaces
Teaching and research space for programs in exercise and nutrition science, and in health and human performance
A functional training space outfitted with Queenax circuit equipment
Expanded space for BikeUT, UT’s university-wide bike usage program

The expansion also included construction of the Benson Alex Riseman Aquatic Center, which is highlighted by an 11-lane, 25-yard, competition-sized pool that will be home to the Spartan men’s and women’s swimming teams. Also, the aquatic center includes a small recreational pool and a clover leaf-shaped hot tub. Additionally, a separate, two-story pool building — the Benson Alex Riseman Pool House — features a large viewing platform, visiting team facilities, restrooms and storage.

Immediately adjacent to the Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center to the west are three new basketball courts and a reconfigured beach volleyball complex, complete with mini stadiums for all three courts. Including the aquatic center and courts, the entire recreational complex will measure about 130,000 square feet.

The center is for the exclusive use of UT students, as well as faculty and staff. UT President Ronald Vaughn said the center will continue to have a big impact on campus, especially in its enhanced form.

“We know that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to UT students, and we believe this center will even further enrich students’ UT experience,” Vaughn said. “I am grateful to Benson for helping us to expand our facilities. This will make the Benson Alex Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center one of the very best in the country. This is a great day for future and current members of the UT community.”