Exciting new renovations are set to begin at Creighton University. To alleviate crowding in the Kiewit Fitness Center’s weight room, Recreation and Wellness will convert the former pool space into a new fitness area.
Recreation and Wellness Director Jason Thornton said the recreation center’s pool closed several years ago as the department partnered with the downtown YMCA to provide access to swimming for students.
“Students can purchase a free pass to use that pool,” Thornton said. “We pay the YMCA monthly for each student pass. Creighton faculty and staff can also purchase passes, but we charge the actual cost for them.” We decided it would be more cost-effective to close and partner with the YMCA for access.”
The rowing club is temporarily using the vacant pool as a practice area after the closure. However, as a result of new focus and benchmarking, we found that we needed to expand the Weight Room by 6,300 square feet to provide an ideal environment for our students.
“The idea to fill in the pool and convert the property into a fitness space was born many years ago as the need to expand the current weight room became very clear,” Thornton said. “With support from university leadership, we were finally able to bring the project to fruition. The university recognizes the importance of recreational opportunities for students, and we have developed recreational and We are investing in the wellness sector.”
Project details
Thornton said the university hopes to complete the renovations by the start of next fall semester. A university project manager is leading the renovation. Since Recreation and Wellness is the beneficiary, the department will be heavily involved in all aspects of this project.
“The Recreation and Wellness and Student Life department is responsible for filling the pool, updating the electrical equipment, creating a design scheme, installing flooring, and adding internet to the pool space while obtaining bids for the equipment. “We plan to work on it,” Thornton said. “The new space will include all new fitness equipment and allow us to add several new equipment lines.”
Specifically, the department said it is considering adding interactive cardio machines, selective equipment, plate-loaded equipment, free weights and functional training sections.
Thornton said an article in the school newspaper will be printed with his contact information so students can submit suggestions for the new space. “Let’s see what fun ideas they can send us,” he said. “We will be adding over 11,200 square feet of space, which will nearly triple the amount of fitness space we currently have.”
Potential benefits and advice
Not only will the renovations modernize the rec center, Thornton said, but it could also further motivate students to take advantage of all of the department’s facilities and services.
“Crowded weight rooms can be scary, especially for beginners and women,” Thornton said. “We hope that the additional space will encourage students to come to the Kiewit Fitness Center, take advantage of the space, and start creating healthy habits. We will also maintain our current weight room. But this is great. I envision using this space for programs like Women On Weights, beginner weightlifting, and fitness orientation.”
For other schools considering similar developments, Thornton recommended relying first on the expertise of project managers and engineers. “It’s important to trust these organizations because filling a pool doesn’t seem to be a simple construction job,” he said. “I think student involvement is also important. The space is for them, so it’s important to get their feedback on what they want from the space. Some requests may not be realistic, but the project I’m sure we’ll get some requests that will help guide us.”
Thornton also said that decisions about lighting, flooring and technology will have an impact for years, so it’s beneficial to involve experts in these areas from the beginning. “You don’t want to waste money or time on something that will make it difficult to run your space,” he said. “I’ve worked in several facilities where the buildings had strange quirks, were difficult to maintain, or the design features didn’t hold up over time. By bringing in local experts, This can be avoided.”
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