MSU Student Rec Center

Approximately 12,300 square feet of Birdair's transparent ETFE Film was used to form thirty-three (33) three-layer cushions, along with support steel to infill three atrium skylights at Michigan State University's Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The 293,000-square-foot addition included several gymnasiums and multi-activity courts while also promoting sustainability through water conservation, carbon emission reductions, passive design strategies, and more. This new multi-use facility served as a valuable space for students to access their recreation and fitness needs with an eye toward future development.

Birdair's scope for the project included design, engineering, fabrication, and installation of the ETFE film, them some of the supporting structural steel. TensoSky® ETFE film is durable, highly transparent and very lightweight in comparison to glass structures. ETFE is being considered the material of choice for traditional skylight applications to long span structures and building facades. The transparent ETFE film cushions at the new MSU Recreation Center were completed in early 2025, with overall substantial completion expected in February 2026.