Students frustrated with overcrowded conditions at the Recreation Center need to look just across the street for an alternative.

Recently renovated and reopened in 2004, the Chick Evans Field House is located on the corner of Lucinda Avenue and Annie Glidden Road. Many students walk by without even knowing its purpose.

The field house offers many of the similar services that the Rec does. It features a three lane, 1/7 mile indoor track and four multipurpose courts that can be used for basketball, indoor soccer, volleyball and floor hockey. There is also a cardio and exercise room featuring a 12-station body master set. All NIU students and anyone with an active recreation membership can use the building while it is open for general recreation.

“I love going to the field house,” said sophomore undeclared major Diego Acevedo. “They have indoor soccer facilities that the Rec doesn’t have, and I love going there to play.”

Dave Lochbaum, associate director of Facility Operations for Recreation Services, believes its all about flexibility.

“If I can have two more basketball or volleyball courts to use for intramural sports or open recreation at the field house, we won’t have 20 guys waiting to play. Also, if we have a crowd waiting to play volleyball at the Rec we can send them over to the Field House and put up a net for them,” he said.

Glenn Bulat, junior physical therapy major, uses the basketball courts at the field house.

“I don’t like going to the Rec because you never get to do what you came there for,” Bulat said. “The field house is much more relaxed, and I don’t have to wait.”

When not available for open recreation, the field house is still bustling with activity. The university’s ROTC program is headquartered there, and many classes and labs are held in the building. The KNPE department also holds many classes at the field house. The Health Enhancement Department is also housed at the field house and provides safe-sex items at the front desk from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The building also features two smart classrooms that are available for classes from all departments.

Even with these services available, the Chick Evans Field House is not used nearly as much as the Rec. According to Recreation Services, only about 250 people used the field house during the first week of February, a number that received a boost from two nights of basketball intramurals.

“I think there is a mental block to cross the street,” Lochbaum said.