Looking through the fence of the old tennis court, a large expanse of dirt reaches from the fence to the former Campus Recreation Center-East building. Spotted with hard hat-wearing workers, construction equipment and a pile of gravel, it is obvious that ground has already been broken.

An hour later, as construction workers finished up their work at the construction site south of the CRCE building, the Division of Campus Recreation celebrated the groundbreaking Tuesday for the renovations in progress at CRCE and IMPE.

"We are excited," said Tony Clements, the director of Campus Recreation. "We're moving along quickly."

Amber Koger, a senior in LAS who served on the Service Fee Advisory Committee for two years, said the renovations were a success because of the amount of education and publicity.

"Campus Rec put forward a lot of effort," Koger said. "The facts were always there."

The facilities will reflect the responses of student focus groups.

"Our main goal was to reach as many people as possible," said Wes Anderson, a University alumnus. "With 30 people on the (referendum) committee, I think we did that."

Anderson said the committee approached many student groups and chalked the Quad to reach more students.

"I had been working for Campus Rec for about 10 months and I wasn't actually sold on the idea (of the renovations) because of the money," Anderson said. "I went to the first meeting of about six people and after investigating, I became obsessed with the idea."

Beginning in fiscal year 2005, the service fee will be raised $77 over a two-year period.

"When you look at the bill next year, you will see phase one of three," said Gene Barton, vice chancellor of Student Affairs.

For those who enrolled in 2003, the service fee will be $179 and covers the cost of renovations.

Gary Miller, associate director of Campus Rec, said once the Board of Trustees approved the contract, Campus Rec sent them the notice to start construction.

"They were on the site the next day," Miller said. "All of us are eager to get going to get this building in the hands of the students."

The footings for the exterior walls are now up, Miller said. "A lot of people are pretty struck with the size of the building."

When CRCE is finished it will be 110,000 square feet, about three times larger than the current facility.

"This is the beginning of the next great era of student life," Clements said.

Pat Askew, chancellor of Student Affairs, said the new facilities would allow for more social interaction.

"They will be destinations the students will seek out," Askew said.

At the ceremony, Askew, Anderson, Clements, Barton and Kogel wore hard hats and shoveled some dirt for photographers.

"At this rate the building will be done in 100 years," Clements joked.

The groundbreaking also celebrated the renovation of Gym 1 at IMPE.

When the IMPE renovations finish in two years, the facility will feature a one-sixth of a mile track, 13 basketball courts, eight multi-purpose rooms, 32,000 square feet of fitness space, a climbing wall, an expanded SportWell Center, a juice bar and a pro shop. A wall with TVs will broadcast activities going on in the facility.

The new CRCE building will offer a one-eighth of a mile track, a three-court basketball gym, a multi-activity court, 10,000 square feet of fitness space and a leisure pool, complete with slides, zero-depth entry, bubble benches and a deck that extends outside.

"It will be a better mix of space," Miller said.