The University Recreation Center (UREC) is the primary recreation facility operated by University Recreation at UNC Charlotte. Opened in January 2020, the five-floor, 148,000-square-foot facility serves students, faculty, staff, and members and supports a wide range of recreational, fitness, and wellbeing activities. As the central hub for University Recreation, the facility houses many of the department's programs, services, and activity spaces and serves as a primary location for participant engagement throughout the academic year.

The state-of-the-art facility features a four-court gymnasium, elevated track, expansive cardio and strength training spaces, five studios (one mind/body, one cycle, and three multipurpose), an indoor artificial turf functional training space, indoor and outdoor pools, a demonstration kitchen, outdoor basketball and pickleball courts, and sand volleyball courts. The facility supports both structured and self-directed recreation through a variety of spaces and amenities designed to meet the diverse needs of the campus community.

Demonstration Kitchen

The Demonstration Kitchen is a multi-purpose instructional space located within the University Recreation Center. Designed to support demonstrations, presentations, and interactive educational experiences, the space provides a dedicated environment for hands-on learning and participant engagement.

Indoor pool

Located on the first floor of the University Recreation Center, the UREC Indoor Pool provides year-round aquatic recreation opportunities. The pool features four lap lanes, two underwater half basketball courts, a volleyball net, a vortex pool for swimming against the current, a zero-entry ramp with access to a pool access chair, and a maximum depth of five feet.

outdoor pool

The UREC Outdoor Pool is located on the first floor of the University Recreation Center and provides seasonal recreational swimming opportunities, typically operating from mid-April through mid-October, weather permitting. The leisure-style pool features in-water lounge chairs, shallow-access entry, picnic tables, umbrellas, and a full water volleyball court, creating a space for recreation, relaxation, and social connection during the warmer months.

outdoor courts

Located adjacent to the University Recreation Center, the Outdoor Courts provide dedicated spaces for basketball, pickleball, and sand volleyball. The area supports a variety of recreational activities and offers additional opportunities for outdoor recreation, physical activity, and social engagement.

Belk Gymnasium offers over 100,000 square feet of space to meet the needs of the UNC Charlotte community for south-campus recreation. Completely renovated in 2015, Belk Gymnasium features three multipurpose hardwood basketball and volleyball courts, badminton courts, dedicated locker rooms, and a 25 yard by 25 meter pool.

Belk gym courts

Belk Gymnasium features three multipurpose hardwood courts that support a variety of recreational activities, programs, and events. The courts are lined for basketball, volleyball, and badminton, with additional activities such as table tennis, kickball, and dodgeball hosted throughout the space. When not reserved for scheduled programs or events, the courts are available for open recreation, providing an additional space for the UNC Charlotte community to play and stay active on south campus.

belk weight room

The Belk Weight Room provides an additional fitness space for the UNC Charlotte community on south campus. The space includes free weights, benches, strength-training and powerlifting equipment, treadmills, and other equipment to support a variety of training styles and experience levels. Whether building strength, working toward a training goal, or fitting movement into the day, the Belk Weight Room offers a dedicated space for individual recreation within Belk Gymnasium.

roy fielding aquatic center

Belk Gym’s pool, also known as the Roy Fielding Aquatic Center (RFAC), is located on the ground floor of Belk Gymnasium and offers convenient morning and lunchtime open swim opportunities. The pool measures 25 meters by 25 yards, with a maximum depth of 13 feet.

The facility is named in honor of Roy R. Fielding, who was a fixture at UNC Charlotte from 1977 through his retirement, serving as a lecturer, aquatics director, and senior lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology.

Before becoming an aquatic facility, the space was home to Charlotte 49ers basketball, with a piece of that history still visible today: the original ticket booth remains near the entrance to RFAC.

Established in 2011, the Northeast Recreational Field Complex (NRFC) features more than 15 acres of synthetic turf designed to support recreation, competition, and student activities. Located across the street from UNC Charlotte’s main campus, the complex includes two large, lighted fields, Fields 15 and 16, with Field 15 divided into five designated playing areas: 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, and 15.5.

NRFC primarily supports Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs, with soccer and flag football among the most common activities held throughout the complex. The flexible field space also accommodates additional recreational activities and club practices. When not reserved for scheduled programs or events, NRFC offers designated freeplay hours for students.

Parking is available at the complex, and equipment is available for checkout during freeplay hours.

Established in 2011, Hayes Field Complex features three lighted outdoor fields on UNC Charlotte’s main campus. Fields 11 and 12 feature natural grass surfaces, while Field 13 provides a synthetic turf playing surface.

The complex primarily supports University Recreation Sport Clubs, providing dedicated space for team practices, competitions, and other scheduled club activities. The fields accommodate a variety of sports throughout the year, including rugby and other field-based club sports.

Calisthenic Outdoor Recreation Equipment (CORE) is an outdoor fitness space located along the on-campus greenway. Designed for bodyweight and calisthenics training, CORE features pull-up bars, built-in benches, platforms, and other equipment that supports a variety of strength and movement exercises. As an outdoor amenity along the public greenway, CORE is freely available for use by the campus and surrounding community.

CORE was made possible through a partnership with the Levine Scholars Program. Students Alex Caviness (2020), Esteban Mendieta (2018), Gabriella Kroska (2018), and Matt Lowry (2018) worked with campus and community partners for more than two years to develop a cost-effective and sustainable approach to community fitness.