Organization: Grand Valley State University
Location: Allendale, Michigan
Key Results
3–6 months → ~30 days
Typical procurement timeline reduced through cooperative purchasing.
Faster project execution
The university avoided a traditional RFP process and accelerated decision-making.
Increased recreation engagement
Updated strength and functional training equipment is driving higher demand and usage.
At Grand Valley State University, recreation spaces are more than fitness facilities—they are central hubs for student wellbeing, community engagement, and campus life.
Peter Bryant, Assistant Athletic Director, oversees recreation center operations and facility planning. His role includes ensuring that the university’s recreation spaces remain modern, accessible, and aligned with evolving student needs.
But as fitness trends shift rapidly, universities often struggle to keep facilities current while navigating lengthy procurement processes.
Grand Valley State faced this challenge when planning upgrades to its recreation center equipment and layout.
The recreation industry has changed significantly in recent years. While cardio equipment once dominated fitness centers, student demand has shifted toward strength training and functional fitness spaces.
At the same time, the university needed to retrofit an existing recreation space with limited square footage and existing infrastructure. The equipment needed to be flexible, adaptable, and inclusive for students of all experience levels.
However, traditional procurement timelines presented a major hurdle.
“Our timelines are always a challenge,” Bryant said. “Having a cooperative purchasing partner allows us to cut those timelines in half and focus on what really matters—creating the right spaces for our students.”
A typical request-for-proposal (RFP) process can take three to six months, delaying projects and slowing the university’s ability to respond to changing student needs.
Grand Valley State needed a faster, more flexible approach.
To accelerate the project, the university leveraged cooperative purchasing through OMNIA Partners.
Using a cooperative contract meant Grand Valley State could access competitively solicited, publicly awarded contracts rather than conducting its own lengthy RFP process. This allowed the university to move directly into evaluating solutions and designing the new space.
Through the cooperative agreement, the university partnered with Matrix Fitness to help design and equip the upgraded recreation facility.
The impact on project speed was significant.
Instead of waiting months for procurement approvals, the university completed the purchasing process in roughly 30 days.
“Cooperatives like OMNIA Partners allow us to have trusted vendors right away,” Bryant said. “We don’t have to go through months of vetting or interviews. We know these vendors have already been reviewed by professionals in our industry.”
By eliminating administrative delays, the team could focus on what mattered most—designing a recreation space that would serve students today and evolve with future trends.
Working closely with Matrix Fitness, the university developed a plan to update the existing recreation center while maximizing flexibility and usability.
The goal was to create a space that could adapt to changing fitness trends while remaining welcoming to students at all levels of experience.
“Modern rec centers today are focused on more than just equipment,” Bryant explained. “They’re supporting wellness, community, and programs that help students succeed.”
The final design emphasized modular equipment and flexible layouts that could evolve as student preferences continue to shift.
Matrix also helped incorporate customized branding into the equipment, reinforcing campus identity throughout the facility.
“School pride and branding are important to us,” Bryant said. “When students walk in, we want them to see Grand Valley, to see Laker Nation, and feel connected to the university.”
By leveraging cooperative purchasing through OMNIA Partners, Grand Valley State was able to dramatically accelerate its recreation facility upgrade.
What would typically take three to six months through a traditional procurement process was completed in about 30 days.
The streamlined process allowed the university to make faster decisions and respond more quickly to evolving recreation trends.
The results were immediately visible.
Students, faculty, and community members responded positively to the upgraded facility, and recreation center usage has continued to grow as more students take advantage of the new strength and functional fitness equipment.
“We’ve seen numbers increase and demand for the space grow,” Bryant said. “That tells us we’re moving in the right direction.”
As recreation trends continue to evolve, Grand Valley State plans to keep adapting its spaces and programming to support student wellness.
Having trusted partners already available through cooperative purchasing makes that process easier.
The university now has the flexibility to explore future upgrades, new technologies, and evolving fitness trends without the delays associated with traditional procurement.
“College recreation is always evolving,” Bryant said. “Having partners who understand the industry and can help us adapt quickly makes a huge difference.”
Through cooperative purchasing with OMNIA Partners and collaboration with Matrix Fitness, Grand Valley State has created a recreation environment designed not only for today’s students—but for the future of campus wellness.