Pardee Gym: A Hub of UCLA Athletics and Recreation

UCLA's athletic prowess is well-known, particularly in high-profile NCAA sports like basketball and football. However, beyond these popular sports lies a vibrant world of club sports, offering a diverse range of activities from archery to wushu. Pardee Gym, located within the John Wooden Center, serves as a central location for many of these activities, as well as fitness classes and open recreation. The gym's history is intertwined with the broader story of UCLA's commitment to athletics and recreation, and its upcoming renovations reflect the university's ongoing efforts to improve its facilities for students.

Club Sports at UCLA

Club sports at UCLA provide opportunities for hundreds of students to participate in various competitive and recreational activities. Two examples of popular coed club sports that utilize the facilities at Pardee Gym are UCLA Badminton and UCLA Powerlifting.

UCLA Badminton

Badminton is a fast-paced sport where players use lightweight rackets to hit a shuttlecock (or birdie) over the net. The action is quick, requiring players to react swiftly to keep the birdie in play. At a friendly meet with UC Berkeley held at Pardee Gym, players used the honor system for scoring, highlighting the emphasis on sportsmanship within the club.

UCLA Badminton boasts a diverse team with varying levels of experience. According to Stephanie Lam, president of UCLA Badminton, many team members join with recreational experience but need to develop their technical skills. Some players have even competed internationally.

UCLA Powerlifting

Powerlifting, in contrast to badminton, emphasizes sheer strength and proper form. Eric Du, president of UCLA’s Powerlifting Club, clarifies the distinction between powerlifting and weightlifting:

Weightlifters perform the snatch and the clean and jerk, lifting the barbell from the ground to overhead.
Powerlifters focus on three key lifts: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift.

In powerlifting, judges evaluate each lift, and a successful lift requires three white lights from the judges. UCLA’s Powerlifting Club, a member of the USA Powerlifting federation, was one of the first clubs on the West Coast, established in 2009. The club provides a dedicated space for its members to train, fostering a strong sense of community.

The Importance of Practice Spaces

Access to adequate practice spaces is crucial for the success of UCLA's club sports. However, upcoming renovations to the John Wooden Center, including Pardee Gym, pose challenges for these groups.

Challenges Posed by Renovations

Andrew Wang, a captain of UCLA Badminton, expressed concerns about how the renovations to Pardee Gym would impact his club's ability to host the Bruin Open, an annual tournament that serves as a major source of revenue for the club. He mentioned that the club's contingency plan involves moving operations to the Student Activities Center once space in Wooden becomes unavailable.

The renovations are expected to cause crowding issues, which could be further exacerbated in the short term. Dance groups, in particular, face closures of practice spaces that began in January. The dance community is working to find creative solutions to the space constraints.

Creative Solutions to Space Constraints

Lenny Chen, a former coordinator and current advisor for the dance group Samahang Modern, noted that challenges in reserving space at the Wooden Center existed even before the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, dance groups have had to find alternative locations for practice.

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Hannah Yang, administrative director for the dance group VSU Modern, mentioned that the group has used parking structures for practice, even before the renovations. The lack of mirrors in these spaces poses a challenge, as mirrors are helpful for dancers to see their movements and improve their technique.

To address the challenges posed by the renovations, the leadership from several competitive dance teams has formed a group chat to collaborate and adjust to the Wooden Center renovations. Despite the difficulties, dance groups remain committed to making dance accessible and community-based, providing a source of support and creativity for students on campus.

John Wooden Center Improvement Project

The John Wooden Center is undergoing seismic renovations, which will impact various facilities, including Collins Court and Pardee Gym. Construction on Collins Court is scheduled to begin in June. Pardee Gym is slated for construction to begin in December.

Renovation Timeline

The John Wooden Center’s construction will occur in phases, with the first sequence starting in the fall and concluding in winter 2027. The renovations are scheduled to be completed before Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympics in 2028, during which UCLA will serve as the Olympic village.

Alternate Spaces

To mitigate the impact of the renovations, UCLA Recreation is taking steps to provide alternate spaces for extracurricular student activities. An expanded weight room will open at Drake Stadium to serve as a temporary space during the weight room's construction, which is scheduled to begin in April.

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Focus on Functionality

Catherine LaFramboise, a student, expressed her hope that the project would prioritize improving the functionality of the John Wooden Center, rather than solely focusing on its appearance.

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