An open house for UNL’s new Outdoor Adventures Center is 2 to 6 p.m. May 2. The event is free and open to students, faculty, staff and the public.

The Outdoor Adventures Center, part of Campus Recreation, officially opens May 5.

The open house will include guided tours and the opportunity to try the new indoor climbing wall. The new center is located at 930 N. 14th St. on the northeast corner of 14th and W streets.

“We are excited to see this new building come to fruition and show the UNL community all that it has to offer. Students have been anticipating this facility for a while now,” said Jordan Messerer, assistant director for Outdoor Adventures. “The expanded bike shop, new climbing gym, classroom and conference spaces allow us to better serve students, staff and community.”

Messerer said students remain the primary focus of the new facility, however it will be open to the public.

“The climbing gym is the largest of its kind in the Midwest and we are capable of outfitting the many pursuits of outdoor enthusiasts — biking, canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking, winter sports, camping. You name it.”

The Outdoor Adventures Center officially opens at 10 a.m. May 5. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The new facility includes:

• Three-story outdoor climbing structure

• Large indoor climbing and bouldering gym

• Expanded campus bike shop

• Outside bike lockers

• Outdoor gear rentals

• Headquarters for adventure trips/challenge course

• Outdoor Adventures classes

The climbing gym temporarily opened on April 12 for the Flatland Climbing Competition. Professional climber Nina Williams joined more than 120 climbers at the annual competition, which is part of the Collegiate Climbing Series Midwest regional finals.

The entire facility is a project of the ‘Yes 2 Better Rec Centers’ referendum approved by UNL students in October 2010. Students voted to appropriate student fees to improve the quality of the University’s campus recreation facilities. Additional projects currently in progress are the new East Campus Rec Center (finishing in summer 2015) and the expansion and renovation of the City Campus Rec Center’s Strength Training and Conditioning Room (opening August 2014).

Outdoor Adventures is a program within UNL Campus Recreation. The mission of Outdoor Adventures is to engage individuals and groups in adventure experiences for escape, enjoyment, and education. For more information, contact Messerer at jmesserer2@unl.edu.