Fitness center completion pushed back four weeks; problems stem from January issues

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Health-minded students will have a few more cramped weeks with the completion date for the Student Activity Center’s Fitness Center renovation pushed to April 25.

Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, said the plan for construction and moving in equipment is now on track. The facility is getting finalized, he said, and equipment is being ordered.

He said the project was delayed for four weeks because of the discovery of lead and asbestos in the facility in January.

“Things have been going extremely well and moving the fitness center to a multi-activity center worked out better than we had expected,” Shingles said. “It helped because we weren’t forced to hurry with construction in any way. We could take the time that was needed.”

Shingles said the construction has been a bit inconvenient, but things are coming together nicely. The floor will be finished this week, and all the equipment will be moved in the weekend of Easter, or April 24.

Construction on the SAC and Rose pools has been underway for the majority of the school year, and several students have felt the impact of those renovations firsthand.

“First semester was really tough when we had to practice in the SAC pool instead of Rose,” said Southfield sophomore J.D. Drain, president of the water polo club. “We had one-hour practices twice a week, which made us have to compact everything we needed to teach.”

The completion date of the pools kept getting pushed back, and Events Center construction made the projects a low priority, Drain said.

“However, when everything was done, I thought they had done a wonderful job,” he said.

Davison senior Jessica Callis visits the fitness center often and said the construction has not been a huge inconvenience for her.

“I actually have liked the way the treadmills are set up because I am able to watch intramural games and other activities while I’m running,” Callis said. “It makes the time go by faster.”

As far as the new fitness center, Callis said she is anxious to see what the final product looks like.

“I can’t wait to start working out in a normal gym again,” Callis said. “I look forward to using the new equipment.”