President Horner snipped a red ribbon yesterday afternoon to dedicate the Radcliffe Quadrangle Recreational Athletic Center, as more than 200 alumnae, students and administrators looked on.

The facility adds a "significant new dimension to the quality of life at the Quadrangle houses," Horner said in her dedication speech. "The educational process requires opportunities for development and growth on many dimensions," she added.

Construction on the center, located opposite the Quad on Garden St., began in September 1978 after community opposition caused a year's delay.

The delay added about $100,000 to the $2.4 million total cost of the building, Burton I. Wolfman, administrative dean of Radcliffe, said yesterday.

"They've done an amazingly good job in keeping it at a low profile," city councilor David Wylie, who supported a 1978 resolution to prevent Radcliffe from building the gym, said yesterday.

"In retrospect one feels bad about having opposed it because there is a student need there. But in the context of the ongoing relationship between the college and the community, the opposition becomes relevant," Wylie added.

Radcliffe will pay for the center with money from the Century Fund Drive, Mary Cox, director of development, said yesterday. Radcliffe has already received $972,000 in gifts and pledges, including a $500,000 single anonymous donation, Cox said.

The Kresge Foundation pledged recently to contribute the last $400,000 of the necessary funds, Cox said, adding she is "confident" Radcliffe will raise the remaining money by next June.

The athletic center is open to all freshmen and residents of Quad Houses, including masters, senior and resident tutors, and resident staff. Other members of the University can use the facilities only as guests.

Boston architect Joseph Hoskins designed the red-brick building, which is set mainly underground. The subterranean design of the center will mean "substantial" energy cost savings, Hoskins said.

The center houses squash courts, locker rooms, a lounge area, and a large multipurpose space for basketball, volleyball and tennis. Two tennis courts are located on the roof of the building, and two others nearby outdoors.