Work Hard, Play Hard

NC State students, faculty and staff work hard. And they play hard.

That’s why one of the most popular spots on campus is the Carmichael Recreation Complex, a state-of-the-art facility offering every form of exercise or recreation students could want, from basketball to badminton, swimming to Zumba, and weightlifting to wall-climbing.

Carmichael Gymnasium, the largest piece of the complex, opened in 1961. It was named for William Donald Carmichael, longtime treasurer of the Consolidated University of North Carolina system. The consolidated system was a precursor to the current UNC System. Carmichael advocated construction of Carmichael Gymnasium, Reynolds Coliseum and other NC State facilities.

A 1987 expansion brought the gym’s size to more than 345,000 square feet, which includes cardiovascular and weight training rooms, an aerobics studio, an indoor track, 11 basketball courts, 18 racquetball courts, a golf room and more. The gym also features an aquatic center and the Willis Casey Natatorium, home to NC State’s swimming and diving teams. Another round of renovations, completed this past spring, created more cardiovascular and weight workout space.

In 2007, construction finished on the Carmichael Recreation Center, which also features a large cardio/weightlifting space, training rooms, massage studio and outdoor equipment rentals. The final piece of the Carmichael Complex is Miller Field, an eight-acre plot that is home to many of NC State’s intramural and club sports.

But Carmichael is more than a place to exercise. It’s also a place to serve, hosting blood and food drives. And in the spring, it becomes a place to celebrate on Employee Appreciation Day.