Fitness center facelift
By David Wicker
To appease students living on campus, a smaller gym, located in an unused Department of the Kinesiology lab, is being constructed as an alternative to the Wellness and Recreation Center.
The October 2012 closing of the Wellness Depot left students with no workout facility on Main Campus.
The new facility will be housed in Centennial Center and replace the Depot as the primary workout and exercise facility on campus.
David WickerPainter Marco Ortic sprays the ceiling of the future Parking and Transportation Services office. The new office will be located in the Depot, 610 West Greene St., and is planned to open in Fall 2012.
“It was difficult because I didn’t have a car,” said Hollyn Phelps, a rising sophomore pre-mass comm major and Parkhurst resident. “I couldn’t just walk next door whenever I wanted. I had to plan around the bus schedule.”
“Designed similar to a hotel workout room, this exercise hub will be unmonitored and made to be used by students at their own risk. The facility will house cardio and weight machines, as well as a rack of different sized dumbbells,” stated a report issued by GC in January. The facility is scheduled to be completed by September.
Jennifer Granade, an incoming freshman, said she looks forward to the opening of this cozier gym.
“I think it will prove [to be] more convenient,” she said. “A large, state of the art gym is awesome, [but it’s] just far away. A small gym right [here] is easier on time constraints.”
Plans have also been made to expand the current athletic weight room located in Centennial Center.
“The current room is too small for larger teams like baseball, softball and basketball. They are forced to break up into smaller groups, cutting time that could be spent on the field or court,” said softball coach Jamie Grodecki.
Jimmy Wilson, associate athletic director, said the expansion is a much-needed upgrade.
“We will be able to offer more opportunities for student athletes (by allowing them access to) newer, more up-to-date equipment,” he said.
“Coaches and athletes are looking forward to the arrival of the more modern amenities,” said Taylor Yee, a junior nursing major and mid-fielder on the women’s soccer team.
“We can all stick together,” Yee said. “We will be able to get all of our weight training done faster so we can spend more time on the field.”
As for the Depot, plans have been made to relocate Parking and Transportation Services, currently located off-campus, to the site. A new meeting space for students is going to occupy the currently vacant space as well.
Cody Allen, Student Government Association president, said the need to add another student-gathering location came about recently, due to the large increase of clubs at GC.
It will include all the technologies found in cutting-edge university rooms like a projector and sound system. With a seating capacity of around 100, the room will also be able to accommodate catered dinner parties. There will be a conjoined lobby with seating and computer access that could also serve as a nearby study area for on-campus residents.
University architect Michael Rickenbaker hopes to see the new Depot completed by November, Allen said.
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