CEDAR FALLS -- The University of Northern Iowa's Human Performance Center may be made of concrete, steel and glass, but it was built through the will of a wide swath of people.

Many of those people showed up Sunday to help dedicate the center at its opening.

"Today marks the beginning of a meaningful relationship between those of us in the primary medical community and the University of Northern of Iowa," said Dr. Jeffrey Clark of Cedar Valley Medical Specialists.

Cedar Valley Medical Specialists was one of many groups that joined with UNI to allow the center to move from a concept to reality. Clark said the partnership allowed the groups varying from the RJ McElroy Trust to Allen Medical Systems and the federal government to "combine our individual strengths to create a first-rate sports medicine facility."

UNI President Ben Allen said the performance center was a continuation of a longtime community partnership between several community organizations in other projects, like the UNI-Dome, the McLeod Center and the Wellness and Recreation Center.

The performance center cost approximately $7.8 million to build.

The Human Performance Center is divided into two areas -- the Sports and Performance Center and the Davis Center for Healthy Youth Development.

The sports and performance center, on the first floor, has programs aimed at promoting wellness, helping athletes and treating sports-related injuries. The youth development center includes programs focused on promoting health and safety among children. There are other nonprofit centers involved as well.

The variety of resources available was also an important factor for getting the backing of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who secured a $1.8 million earmark for the center.

Harkin said the facility's focus on wellness fit well within his own push to increase fitness and well-being. He said the country needed to turn from a "sick-care" health-care system to one that focuses on wellness and prevention of illness.

"I believe the wealthiest country in the world ought to be the healthiest country in the world," he said.

The number of resources under the one roof makes the performance center unique and an attraction for UNI, speakers said at the dedication.

One such prospect was Meghan Phillips, a student at Salisbury University in Maryland looking to go into UNI's graduate program.

"It's beautiful," she said.

Phillips heard about the performance center during a presentation by a fitness company in Rhode Island. Facilities like the performance center, the UNI-Dome and the wellness and recreation center next door have a lot of currency with prospective students, Phillips said.

After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the center was opened for tours. Students and members of the various agencies housed there demonstrated the types of programs available.

Some performed exercises in the hydrotherapy room. Others rubbed down tired athletes in the physical therapy room. For the most part, community members were impressed.

"Oh, I think it's fantastic," said Joanne Reeves of Cedar Falls.

Reeves and her husband received a flier publicizing the dedication. She described herself as a big supporter.

Allen said there may be another dedication in the future after Des Moines businessman Richard Jacobsen put forward $3 million for a future project if the university could come up with a matching $2 million. Allen did not elaborate on what the project would be.

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.