FACILITIES AND DIRECTIONS TO CAMPUS
Hours of
Operation
(includes Fitness Center, Pool, Tennis Courts, Alumni Gym,
Harrington Auditorirm and Fields/Turf)
The WPI physical education, recreation & athletics facilities are divided among three main venues: Alumni Gymnasium, Harrington Auditorium and the outdoor facilities. Over the years these venues have been upgraded and improved to help meet the needs of the department. All the facilities are open to the WPI community during posted hours and at other times may be reserved by e-mailing Jason Steele.
Alumni Field
Pictured right, the recently renovated Alumni Field features the
same turf field now in use at Gillette Stadium (home of the New
England Patriots), new bleachers and press box on the west side of
the field, a scoreboard, and a field lighting system. The existing
eight-lane track was resurfaced and named in honor of legendary
coach Merl Norcross. This state-of-the-art outdoor sports facility
is the home of intercollegiate field hockey, football, soccer, and
track and field, and provides an impressive facility for club
sports, intramural programs, and recreational use by the WPI
community. The stadium allows WPI to host championships at the
local, regional, and national levels.
Harrington Auditorium
Pictured left, Harrington is home to the basketball and volleyball
teams and seats 3,000. Built in 1968, the building also houses
squash and raquetball courts, a wrestling practice room, and an
area for aerobics or other activities. The venerable arena has also
been the home for decades of the MIAA Boys and Girls Central Mass
Basketball semifinals and championships.
Alumni Gymnasium
Built in 1916, Alumni Gym houses a variety of athletic and
recreational facilities, as well as locker rooms and the equipment
room. The main gym is the site of varsity wrestling meets. Out of
season it is used for recreational, intramural and club sports.
Above the main court is a track measuring 1/15 mile. On the main
level are the locker rooms, equipment room, training room and
department offices. On the lower level is the pool, a
4,000-square-foot fitness center and a bowling center.
Gompei's Gutters
Pictured right, WPI has its own six-lane bowling alley in the lower level of Alumni Gym. Complete with black, light, glow-in-the-dark balls and great music, LASERLIGHT provides a nightly experience for students and faculty. Also available for recreational use, the bowling center also features an arcade gaming center inside.
Open most week days from 11-1pm and from 8-12pm, one can bowl for as little as $2.25, with a $.75 rental charge for shoes. While Gompei's does not take reservations from the general public, the alley does take them for on-campus groups, organizations and other celebrations.
Fitness Center
The 4,000 square foot fitness center is located in the lower level in the front of Alumni Gym. During school hours the gym is open to all students, members of the faculty, and staff (with presentation of a valid WPI ID) from 7-10am and 12-9pm from Monday thru Friday. On Saturday and Sunday the gym will be open from 12-6pm. The Fitness Center will be closed from 10-12 during the week for the use of maintenance and physical education classes.
Treadmills, bikes, Stairmasters, free weights, and universal weights are all available for use in the fitness center. Elliptical treadmills are located on the third-floor balcony of Harrington.
Here are the posted hours for the fitness center.
Class of 1893 Field
This field is home to the baseball and softball teams. It is also used by the track and field teams for field events and during the fall sports teams use the grass field for practice.
A.J. Knight Tennis Courts
Just across Park Avenue from the playing fields, the courts are used by the men's and women's club tennis teams and physical education classes. These six asphalt courts are also available for recreational.