By By Jenn Cefalu, Staff Writer
After months of planning the University’s recreation center is about to get a makeover.
“There are very exciting changes coming,” said Pat Montagano, Director of Recreation and Intramural Sports. “The renovation will provide more fitness opportunities to hopefully attract more students.”
Those fitness opportunities will include three new studios that will be used exclusively for spinning, aerobics and yoga. The indoor track will be resurfaced and the weight room will be expanded. One of the most in depth portions of the renovation will be to the upstairs fitness center, where walls will be knocked down and cardio machines moved to change the center’s overall feel.
First opened in 1989 the renovated recreation center will also feature a more up to date look. “It’s time to modernize,” Montagano said. “This will be a place where students want to go.”
In addition to the new exercise facilities, the rec center will be home to new lounge areas, as well as a room where students can purchase protein shakes and energy bars. “It all sounds really exciting,” said Annie Styles, a sophomore majoring in Global Studies. “I’m glad there will be more specialized facilities.
It will make the center feel more like a real gym.” Sheeryn Kahen, a junior duel majoring in Public Relations and English agreed. “I’m excited for all the new options that we’ll have when we go to the center to work out. Right now there aren’t a lot of options if you have a busy schedule, but now we’ll be able to participate in more activities.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in January of 2010 and is estimated to be completed in 12 to 15 months. Recreation center users need not worry about how the construction will affect their workout plans. “Obviously there will be some disruptions, as walls are coming down.
There definitely will still be recreation,” Montagano said. Limited closures of sections of the center will occur while there is construction on the 2nd floor. Cardio machines will be accessible in a different location. There are no plans to change the center’s current hours of operation. “We are, of course, confined to the space that we have,” said Montagano.
“We want to keep the construction areas safe for center users. Obviously, the faster the work is done, the faster we can use it. We want to keep momentum going for everyone.”
“The plans sounds awesome, but I‘m worried about how it will affect students during construction,” said Kris Ortiz, a Senior majoring in Radio. “The best part of the rec center is that it’s free and accessible at any time. Hopefully they’ll be able to let students use the facilities while they’re working on it.”
Despite the disruptions, Montagano is confident that it will be worth it in the end.”The renovation and expansion will certainly help with student satisfaction,” she said, adding that the time has come for a change to the building. “It’s a great facility. Now it will be even better.”