San Jose State University Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

The Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center (SRAC) is a central campus hub that enriches student life with a holistic approach to wellness.

Location

San Jose, California

Client

San Jose State University

Expertise

[FPO] Architecture Wellness Brand Design Education Sports [FPO] expertise 05

Opportunity

A commuter campus with growing enrollment needed more than a recreation facility — it needed a destination that would strengthen student success, belonging, and engagement.

As many California State Universities experience sustained enrollment growth, services that prioritize well-being are seen as essential for students to build connections and achieve academic success. In response to new expectations and demand, San Jose State University’s new recreation and aquatic center needed to be highly visible, welcoming, and engaging for first-time users as well as dedicated athletes. The project needed to function as a true community destination, promoting accessibility, inclusivity and everyday activity.

Why This Matters

01
Campus Belonging and Pride
For a campus with a dispersed student population, the project needed to create a shared destination that could strengthen identity, connection, daily engagement, and Spartan pride.
02
Wellness for All
The facility needed to support every type of student, from first-time users to dedicated athletes. Inclusivity, visibility, inspiration, and choice were essential to the project's success.
03
Future-Ready Performance
An evolving student population and shifting recreation trends called for a flexible, high-performance facility capable of adapting over time while continually elevating the user experience.

https://gensler.openasset.com/page/files/127997/search/1820858/file-info

Solution

Wellness is transformed into a singular campus experience through a dynamic hub that embraces recreation as both a lifestyle and a way to build community.

To be a Spartan is to celebrate every individual’s story and potential, fostering a community grounded in hard work, resilience, collaboration, resourcefulness, and pride. The SRAC reflects this spirit by reimagining recreation as a catalyst for personal growth, connection, and inclusion. SJSU’s legacy of innovation, pragmatism, and social justice comes to life in a bold, distinct brand identity. Anchored by a 120,000 square foot gymnasium and 40,000-square-foot aquatics deck, the facility’s diverse fitness, recreation, and social spaces help users find their fit while creating a vibrant third space to connect, study, and recharge.

From brief to build: Shaped by student life, inclusion, and performance goals, the design process transformed campus identity into a blend of architecture, graphics, and environmental strategies.

The design process treated recreation as both a lifestyle and learning opportunity. The team translated student commuting patterns, inclusivity goals, and campus identity into youthful branding, flexible social and study spaces, and a motion-driven exterior concept. Sustainable design principles informed key decisions throughout the process — from the track-based air distribution approach to the angled rainscreen designed to optimize daylight and limit solar heat gain for the campus community.

History in Motion

A tribute to San José State's tradition of leadership, activism, and advocacy through the power of sport.

Impact

Uniting fitness, recreation, academics, and belonging, this highly visible hub sets the bar for a wellness-oriented and inclusive campus experience.

The facility strengthens campus life, supports student health, and establishes an everyday gathering place that reflects the energy, diversity, and pride of the Spartan community.

What Changed Because of This

01
Everyday Connection
Responding to diverse student lifestyles and living arrangements, the center offers a shared destination for wellness, social connection, and studying.
02
Inclusive Use
Clear organization, diverse activity settings, and inclusive design support first-time users, dedicated athletes, and people with varying mobility.
03
Health Performance
Energy efficiency, fresh air, and daylight-driven design enhance comfort and indoor environmental quality while supporting long-term usability.

Recognition

01

Athletic Business

Highlighted Gensler's motion-driven façade, daylighting strategy, and material innovation, establishing a distinctive exterior identity.

02

Silicon Valley Business Journal

Awarded the 2019 Education Structures Award, recognizing the collaboration between the university, Gensler, and Hunt Construction for shortening construction time and reducing costs.

03

ENR

Named the “Best Northern California Project” in the Sports/Entertainment category.

Team

Project Leadership

Jacqueline Zuhoski

As Technical Director, Jacqueline leverages her capabilities to successfully identify and implement solutions at all project phases. She is also a Design Resilience Leader, supporting Gensler’s Product Sustainability (GPS) Standards, which are part of the firm’s broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by the built environment.

Kirk Funkhouser

Kirk is a Design Manager in Gensler’s Austin office. Since joining the firm in 2011, he has managed some of Gensler’s largest projects, including the Golden State Warriors’ arena; NFL stadium projects for the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions; a multibillion-dollar integrated resort in Asia; and the redevelopment of Culver Studios.

Janice Cavaliere

Janice is a Design Director and global leader of Gensler’s Brand Design practice. She believes that meaningful experiences can differentiate brands, drive business, and build community.

Steve Chung

Steve Chung is a Design Director and Sports Leader for Gensler’s Southwest region, where he leads sports, training, and recreation projects with a focus on access, performance, and community impact.

FAQ

01

What is the Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center?

The SRAC is a central student destination at San Jose State University combining recreation, aquatics, wellness, lounge areas, and support space in one campus hub.

02

What program elements does the project include?

It includes a weight and fitness center, exercise rooms, rock-climbing wall, student lounges, recreation offices, and an outdoor aquatics deck with two 50-meter pools.

03

How does the project support inclusivity?

Inclusive features include smaller exercise areas, varied-height counters, and a roll-on climbing wall mat for people who use mobility devices.

04

Why is the building more than a recreation center?

The project was designed as a complete wellness destination and additional space where students can study, connect, cool down, and build community between classes.

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Related Expertise

Architecture Wellness Brand Design Education Sports Expertise 05

The Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center (SRAC) is a central campus hub that enriches student life with a holistic approach to wellness.

A commuter campus with growing enrollment needed more than a recreation facility — it needed a destination that would strengthen student success, belonging, and engagement.

Why This Matters

Wellness is transformed into a singular campus experience through a dynamic hub that embraces recreation as both a lifestyle and a way to build community.

From brief to build: Shaped by student life, inclusion, and performance goals, the design process transformed campus identity into a blend of architecture, graphics, and environmental strategies.

Uniting fitness, recreation, academics, and belonging, this highly visible hub sets the bar for a wellness-oriented and inclusive campus experience.

What Changed Because of This