The Jesse Philips Physical Education Center, an 115,000-square-foot facility, is the hallmark of Oberlin's athletic complex. The Main Gym is used for varsity basketball and volleyball, and the location of various other campus events. Philips also has a secondary gym that is primarily used for recreational activities, which include a robust intramural basketball program. Other facilities in Philips include a climbing wall and bouldering cave; Carr Pool; Weight Rooms containing Hammer Strength and Universal weight training machines, as well as free weights, a heavy bag, speed bags, and a multipurpose room. The multipurpose room attracts various user groups, which include physical education classes, recreational classes and independent workouts. Philips Gym also boasts 4 racquetball and 4 American squash courts. Within this area there are also a handful of courts that have been repurposed for the use of table tennis and indoor golf. The John W. Heisman Club Field House is linked to Philips and includes a six-lane 200-meter track and four tennis courts. The courts, which were the site of the 2010 NCAA Men's National Championships, are set to be resurfaced in 2013.
The Recreation Center has offered paid memberships to the local community since 1978. These memberships include full use of all of the college's recreation facilities in Philips Physical Education Center and the Heisman Field House. The Recreation Center is open seven days a week during the academic year, closing only for major holidays and certain special events. Summer hours are slightly reduced (see
hours in general info). The OCRC is closed over winter shutdown (Christmas through New Years) and the first week in August for facility maintenance.
