Raymond B. Preston Health and Activities Center

Constructed in 1992, the Preston Center added a new dimension to recreational activities, intramural sports, and open recreation for the university community. Components of the Preston Center include a fitness center, gymnasium, dance studio, racquetball courts, the Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Center (ORAC), a Health & Fitness Lab, and many other features. Preston Center Membership is included in tuition.

Department of Intramural-Recreational Sports

The Department of Intramural-Recreational Sports is located in the Raymond B. Preston Health and Activities Center. “Recreation, Fitness, and Fun ... Steps To Life Long Activity” expresses the philosophy of this office and one that is implemented by providing recreational and healthy lifestyle opportunities for the university community.

Raymond B. Preston Health and Activities Center

The Raymond B. Preston Health and Activities Center is an 126,000 square foot facility that opened in 1992. It houses six basketball/volleyball/badminton courts, six racquetball courts, two indoor tennis courts, a swimming pool, a fitness center containing cardiovascular, selectorize, strength and free weight equipment, a suspended indoor running track, a dance studio, separate faculty/staff and student locker rooms, multipurpose room, a smart class room, a Health and Fitness Lab, an Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Center, a pro-shop, a bike repair shop, and the Intramural-Recreational Sports Office. 13,000 square feet of fitness center space was added in 2010.

Hattie L. Preston Intramural Sports Complex

The Hattie L. Preston Intramural Sports Complex, located two miles from campus on the corner of Campbell Lane and Industrial Drive, presents a significant addition to the Intramural-Recreational Sports Department’s facilities. The centerpiece of the Sports Complex is the two-story field house, which has administrative offices, a lounge, scorekeeping areas, a concessions area, restrooms and a storage area.

Health & Fitness Lab

The Health & Fitness Lab, located in the Preston Center, provides clinical and educational services to students, faculty and staff of Western. The Lab provides all the fitness programming in the Preston Center including group fitness classes and various fitness assessments, exercise prescriptions, weight training orientations and healthy lifestyle counseling. Other programs offered are personal training, massage therapy and instructional programs such as yoga, salsa lessons, swimming lessons and much more! (A separate fee is required for these services).

Outdoor Recreation Adventure Center

The Outdoor Recreation Adventure Center (ORAC) at Western Kentucky University offers a variety of outdoor programs for the university community for a minimal cost.  These include the following programs:  adventure trips, outdoor equipment rentals, skill clinics, outdoor resource library, and adventure, challenges, and team building.  The ORAC manages the WKU Challenge Course which features both high and low ropes elements.  The WKU Challenge Course is located at the WKU Agricultural Farm.

Students interested in any aspect of the Intramural-Recreational Sports programs may come to the Intramural-Recreational Sports offices to obtain information or may phone the office at 270-745-6060. The offices are located on the 2nd floor of Preston Center, and are open Monday through Friday from 8am-4:30pm. Check us out on the web.