Hadley Family Recreation and Wellness Center

The Women's Athletic Building courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library (Top). Aerial Photograph of the Central Campus Recreation Building in 1976, courtesy of the Ann Arbor District Library (Bottom).

Reimagining Recreation: From the Women’s Athletic Building to the Hadley Family Recreation and Well-Being Center

by Sergio Vélez Catalá

From its 1928 roots as a home for women’s athletics to a cutting-edge, the ground on which the new Hadley Family Recreation and Well-Being Center sits reflects a powerful commitment by the University of Michigan to progress and health. It’s a story of spaces transformed, keeping pace with a community's changing dreams and needs (Gott).

The Women's Athletic Building stood as a testament to the University of Michigan's early recognition of the importance of physical education. It was among the first buildings in the country designed specifically for women's intramural sports, signifying a progressive stance towards gender inclusivity in athletics (Shaw et al.). Supporting the women's physical education program and housing the Margaret Bell Pool, the facility served around 5,400 female students. (Kanamangala).

However, by 1975, to accommodate evolving demands and the need for more facilities, the Women's Athletic Building was replaced by the Central Campus Recreation Building (CCRB) (Shaw et al.). The CCRB served the community for 47 years, during which time the recreational sports and programs expanded dramatically. Acknowledging the CCRB's limitations and the growing demand for more recreational spaces, the university embarked on a project to create the Hadley Family Recreation and Well-Being Center (Gott). This new center, spanning over 300,000 square feet, is a significant expansion from its predecessors and was designed to support various fitness, wellness, and recreational activities (Swanson).

The Hadley Family Recreation & Well-being Center at the University of Michigan is named in honor of the generous $20 million donation by the Hadley family. "The decision to name the center after the Hadleys was inspired by the positive experiences of their children at the university, highlighting the family's desire to support physical well-being and create a legacy at the university" (Swanson). The Hadleys’ relationship to UM is through Kate and Eric Hadley, children of Phil and Nicole Hadley. Kate is an LSA alum from 2020 and Eric is a double alum: from LSA in 2022 and "in 2023 with a Master of Management degree from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business" (Swanson). Their parents were active members of the UM Parent & Family Leadership Council from 2017 to 2023 and played a crucial role in supporting the university's initiatives, particularly in the College of Engineering and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (Swanson).

Bridge view of the Hadley Family Recreation and Wellness Center being built on April 14,2024 by Sergio Vélez Catalá.

Philip and Nicole Hadley watching a football game, courtesy of UMich News.

Philip "Phil" Hadley, a distinguished 1984 alumnus of the University of Iowa, made remarkable strides in business and philanthropy. Serving as the chairman and CEO of FactSet Research Systems from 2000 to 2015, Hadley's leadership and vision were pivotal to the company's growth and success. His influence extends beyond FactSet, as he contributed to the boards of several companies and institutions, including Kroll, Rocket Reach, Calero, Samba Safety, Clean Origin, ReOrg, Waterside School, and Krause Group (Swanson).

The name "Hadley" has a historical significance that connects with the spirit of the University of Michigan. The surname originates from Old English, composed of the elements hæð, meaning "heath" or "wasteland," and leah, meaning "clearing" or "meadow." With the combination of both, "Hadley" traditionally signifies "heath clearing" or "clearing in the heather" (Bagg). Just as a "heath clearing" represents potential and growth in the wilderness, the Hadley Center signifies a place of development, well-being, and community within the university. The naming of the Recreation and Well-Being Center after the Hadley family honors their contributions and aligns with the values of transformation and community connection that the university upholds. It signifies a space where students and faculty can grow and offers a ground for personal and collective development (Dodge).

Works Cited

“Aerial Photograph of the Central Campus Recreation Building.” The Ann Arbor News. September 1976. Ann Arbor District Library. https://aadl.org/N111_0147_001 Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Ann Arbor, News. Aerial Photograph of the Central Campus Recreation Building, University of Michigan, September 1976. 1976. Ann Arbor District Library. Accessed 2024.

Bagg, Emily. “Hadley.” The Bump, 15 March 2024, www.thebump.com/b/hadley-baby-name Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Dodge, Samuel. “Lifting Weights, Uplifting Lives: Leaders Praise New $165M University of Michigan

Rec Center.” Mlive, 29 Jan. 2024, www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/01/lifting-weights-

uplifting-lives-leaders-praise-new-165m-university-of-michigan-rec-center.html. Accessed 1 Apr.

2024.

Gott, Sue. “Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center.” University of Michigan Architecture, Engineering and Construction, 6 Oct. 2023, umaec.umich.edu/projects/major-projects/central-campus-recreation-building-replacement/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Kanamangala, Neel. “Margaret Bell Pool.” UM Name Stories Project, 2022, sites.google.com/umich.edu/umnamestories/athletics/margaret-bell-pool?authuser=0. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Minetti, Claudia. “UMich ‘Tops off’ Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center.” The Michigan Daily, 29 Jan. 2024, www.michigandaily.com/news/administration/umich-tops-off-hadley-family-recreation-well-being-center/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Swanson, Madeline. “U-M Parents Give $20m to Advance New Center for Recreation and Well-Being.” University of Michigan News, 21 Sept. 2023, news.umich.edu/u-m-parents-give-20m-to-advance-new-center-for-recreation-and-well-being/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Swanson, Madeline. "Philip and Nicole Hadley have committed to donating $20 million to the new Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center, formerly the Central Campus Recreation Building." The University Record. The University of Michigan. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Vélez, Sergio. Hadley Family Recreation and Wellness Center being built. 8 December 2024.

Author’s Personal Collection.

Wilfred B. Shaw, et al. "The University of Michigan, an encyclopedic survey", University of Michigan

Press. 1941, https://quod.lib.umich.edu/u/umsuvey/ AAS3302.0004.001/1:1?rgn=div1;view=fulltext.

Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

"Women's Athletic Bldg.; BL004667." In the digital collection Bentley Historical Library: Bentley Image

Bank. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-bl004667/bl004667. University of Michigan Library Digital

Collections. Accessed March 29, 2024.

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