Falcon Center to Celebrate "A Picture Perfect Birthday"
As Fairmont State University commemorates its Sesquicentennial throughout 2015, the central hub of campus—the Falcon Center—prepares to celebrate its 10th birthday.
Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are invited to attend “A Picture Perfect Birthday” celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, on the second floor Main Street area of the Falcon Center.
The Falcon Center and the Office of Student Activities will host the event that will include a birthday-themed photo booth for photos with mascots Freddie the Falcon and Montgomery the Lion and, of course, a special birthday cake. Sweet Babes Cakery in Morgantown is creating a unique replica cake of the building.
“The Falcon Center is the hub of campus; it’s so full of life and activity. It’s a great thing to celebrate,” said Jackie Inskeep, Director of Student Activities.
Through various recreational and social programs, the Falcon Center and its staff provide an atmosphere to support the out-of-class experience as part of the total educational process while advancing the FSU and Pierpont missions and supporting college persistence.
The 126,000 square foot Falcon Center began as a pile of dirt in the center of campus in 2003, following a groundbreaking ceremony. Construction continued through 2004. The facility, which opened in January 2005, has become the true center of campus life with its fitness center, gyms for Intramural Sports and large events, Office of Student Activities, Student Government office, Dining Services, Conference Services, Student Health Service, Copy Center, Bound for Success Bookstore and the Department of Public Safety.
“Students come first, it is their center,” said Robin Yeager, Director of the Falcon Center, who was hired to help open the facility and has provided its leadership since 2005. “We listen to the students and work to accommodate their requests. The student building is the social, fun place to meet students, see their professors and enjoy a variety of offered student events.”
From the beginning of the planning process for the building, students have helped shape what it would become. During the design phase, students voted on what features they wanted to see in the Falcon Center and ranked their top seven picks. Their number one pick was gym space, so that’s why the building features four large gyms.
Other amenities of the Falcon Center include the following:
- About 7,000 square feet of fitness equipment including tread mills, bikes, stair-steppers, elliptical trainers, selectorized/plate-loaded weight equipment, free weights and cardio- theater.
- Five versatile courts marked for basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis and indoor soccer.
- Two multi-purpose rooms providing a variety of classes (aerobics, yoga, dance, spinning). Also, a new Fitness on Demand kiosk allows students to freely choose a fitness class and follow an instructor on a large TV screen.
- Intramural sports, fitness/wellness programs and entertainment events for students.
- Aquatics including a four-lane, 25 yard lap/fitness pool, whirlpool, sauna and outdoor sunning area.
- A four-lane cushioned jogging/walking track with available stretch areas.
- Spacious locker rooms with lockers that may be rented.
- Game room with pool tables.
- A large dining hall that seats 500 with a spacious outdoor terrace.
- A food court deli-style Nickel for late night snacking.
- A Conference Center on the third floor.
- A computer lab and classroom.
For more information about the Falcon Center, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/falconcenter.
Falcon CenterRobin YeagerJackie InskeepOffice of Student ActivitiesSesquicentennial
