This is a stunning output given the modest size of Samford’s student body (approximately 6,000), and it signals the university’s long-standing culture of excellence in preparing students for success following graduation. Its 180-acre campus is home to more than 50 Georgian Colonial buildings and has been cited by multiple sources as one of the most beautiful campuses in America. Samford is also noted for its commitment to advancing sustainability practices and its work towards achieving LEED certification, most recently, with the construction of its new Recreation, Wellness and Athletic Complex.

Put simply, Samford is a stellar university and a special place, made evident during my recent conversation with Nick Madsen, executive director of Campus Recreation. Madsen and I sat down to discuss Samford’s new Recreation, Wellness and Athletic Complex, which broke ground in April of 2023 and, as of September 2024, is now available to its students, faculty and staff. The complex has already proven to be a huge hit with the Samford campus community.

Madsen offered some perspective. “Over a year span, our previous facility received around 33,000 visits. Just in the first week of our new complex opening, we had 9,000 visits—and 2,000 on the first day alone. That’s more than one-third of student enrollment visiting on opening day. We’re seeing a similar outcome with enrollment in our fitness programs. Over an entire year, about 300 to 400 students registered for fitness programs. The first week of the new complex, over 600 have already registered.” Smiling, he goes on to explain, “There was never a concern with overcrowding because the complex is so well designed.”

Samford’s ‘Wellness District’

The new Recreation, Wellness and Athletic Complex encompasses four separate buildings totaling 165,000 square feet. “The new facilities provide students with greater opportunities to play sports and enjoy recreational activities,” Madsen says. “There they can relieve stress and have fun, work collaboratively, overcome adversity, and build great friendships.” The facility of Seibert Hall functions as the primary hub for the complex. It has been completely redesigned and now includes multiuse courts, studios for fitness classes, dance studios, a state-of-the-art weight room, and a multipurpose workout area, in addition to big screen TVs and a stage area. “We’re seeing a lot of students at Seibert, and you can see how excited they are. There’s plenty of common space—lounge areas with massage chairs, a coffeehouse, a 24-hour convenience store. Students don’t just go there to work out. They’re in Seibert to socialize, do homework, study. We’re a Christian university, and it’s not uncommon to see Bible studies groups gather. It’s definitely a destination point on campus.”

The Bashinsky Field House, among the four buildings comprising the new complex, has been fully refurbished. It functions as a dedicated facility for Samford student-athletes. “We have new training spaces, and we’re really proud of the spaces dedicated for the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs.” On the subject of how the new facilities may impact student-athlete recruitment, Madsen notes, “It’s too early to offer numbers since the Recreation, Wellness and Athletic Complex is a brand-new addition to campus. But there’s little question that having our own practice facility will be a great benefit. Obviously, we want to continue successful recruiting. With all of our new facilities, we want [student-athletes] to interact and have fun with the rest of the student body. It’s important that all our students are together. Let’s build school spirit and our fanbase.”

Madsen refers to the facilities as the “wellness district” of campus. A key component of this district is located on the first floor of the Beeson Alumni Center, housed across the street from Seibert Hall. The center has been renovated and serves as the new home for University Health Services and the Samford Cares office, the latter of which consists of student counseling, wellness programs, and the CARE team. A fourth building has also been constructed. It is adjacent to Seibert and encompasses 30,000 square feet of additional recreation and event space. “We can host events, big or small—100 to 150 with tables, 200 without. We’re already seeing Greek life using event space to raise money for school functions.” The new facility also features a suspended indoor track, additional basketball and cardio spaces, sound and staging for hosting campus events, a catering kitchen, a pedestrian walkway, and a covered outdoor athletic space that overlooks Bobby Bowden Field.

Samford’s Recreation, Wellness and Athletic Complex was an $85 million venture—the largest capital project in university history. Of that, $20 million was raised by alumni. “Our alumni love to give back and they see the benefits of giving back. They want to help the Samford community continue to grow and thrive.”

Projects on the Horizon

Alumni contributions are an essential component of Samford Horizons, a long-term campus master plan. “One of our major goals is to increase enrollment numbers to 7,500. We’ll need more parking, more residences for the students.” New projects, aided in part by the generosity of Samford alumni, include two new residence halls for first-year students, two residence halls for upper division students, and 550 new parking spaces. “A university initiative is to house at least 75 percent of our students on campus. We have a strong community base here. More students who live on campus strengthens our community.”

Construction on the projects included in the first phase are underway and scheduled for completion for the start of the fall 2025 semester. Included in the project are the university’s soon-to-be largest first-year residence halls with a west building and east building connected by modern, inviting community spaces. This complex will feature 513 beds in single and double-suite style configurations. It will be located north of the Ralph W. Beeson University Center and south of Lena Vail Davis Residence Hall. When combined with Mamie Mell Smith and Vail Residence Halls, the three-building complex will form Samford’s Freshman Commons and serve as home to all first-year students. Other residence halls currently used for first-year housing will be available to address the demand for on-campus housing among upper division students. Also included are two new upper-division residence halls, those which may be dedicated as Greek housing to accommodate the university’s growing Greek population. The 550-space parking addition will be added to the north parking deck and will provide much needed parking to a growing and thriving campus. The new facilities, announced on the heels of the Recreation, Wellness and Athletic Complex, are estimated to cost upwards of $188 million. Such hefty investments reflect widespread optimism within the Samford community. This optimism is borne out of the leadership of University President Beck A. Taylor and is matched by the expertise and tenacity of the Samford community at large.

This past year, the city of Birmingham saw the doors of another private university close, one located a little over eight miles from Samford. In this broader context, the ambitious improvements of Samford’s campus are welcome news for locals across the city, and likewise for prospective students and their families. Samford is investing in itself, ultimately—in the stellar quality of education it provides; in its culture of togetherness; in the beauty of its campus; and most of all, in its people.  These new improvements strengthen Samford’s educational mission, helping the institution to realize its vision of being the school of choice among national, comprehensive, Christ-centered universities. Exciting days are ahead.