Written by Vishakha Mathur
The University of Minnesota facilities are well rounded to help students. The campus itself is well-maintained and provides good energy. There is the University Recreation Center on East Bank, and St. Paul has its own gymnasium, too. The Rec is big and offers facilities such as a weight room, swimming pool, diving pool, sauna, basketball and volleyball courts, and an indoor running track, to name a few. However, it is always crowded, and students often have to wait for machines to open up. Currently, it is under construction for expansion. St. Paul gym is smaller and offers less facilities, but it is easier to get access to the machines. Thus, many students enjoy the outdoors for cardio workouts. The STSS (Science Teaching & Student Services) building was reconstructed in 2010. It contains many active learning classrooms (ALC), which feature large round tables, switchable laptop-based technology, fixed flat-panel-display projection systems, and a 360-degree marker board around the perimeter of the room. The building has retained some of its foundation, which allowed for less demolition cost and landfill waste. In terms of art buildings, the Weisman Art Museum won a prestigious Progressive Architecture Design Award in 1991 for its intriguing and innovative design, as well.
Walter, Wilson, and Magrath are the main libraries of East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul campuses, respectively. They are usually very busy and crowded. The lack of space in libraries is usually subsidized by having other study areas around the campus. Most buildings have study rooms, as well. Coffman and St. Paul Student Center serve the dual purpose of being the hub for student activities in addition to being study facilities; both house a University bookstore, too. Coffman houses Goldy's Gameroom, which holds a 14-lane bowling alley, pool tables, pingpong tables, and an arcade. There is also a movie theater and many eateries. U of M offers just about most of the facilities the students might need in their day-to-day life.