As some of you may know, the IM building has a whole new look to it. After months of construction, the intramural building has been renovated and looks great. While the upper floor in now open, the new fitness center will be ready in one week. Previously, the IM building was pretty much devoted to the “East bros”. Since it was small, dull, and full of weights, it became a sort of haven for the big and buff. If you wanted to get some cardio or even a light weight workout, you pretty much had to go to either Rec or White. In just one week, this will be a problem of the past.
While not an “East bro”, I am an East resident who likes to go the IM. Personally, I’m very excited for the new gym to open up. Like Rec, the upper section is entirely devoted to cardio machines like treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes. Similarly, there will be a mix of heavy lifting and light lifting machinery on the ground floor. Here are some of the pros of the new gym:
1. Scenery: Unlike the previous gym in the basement of the IM building, the new fitness center has windows. While buried in the basement, the previous gym was sided by cinder blocks and giant mirrors in front of the lifting racks. Don’t get me wrong, my inner narcissism will greatly miss the mirrors. However, I’m looking forward to having something to look at other than my ripped biceps (or imaginary ripped biceps). The new gym will have a nice view of the BJC, Pegula, and Mount Nittany.
2. Space: Since the old gym would have been better suited as a big storage closet, the new gym will allow members to spread out. In the old gym, you had to wait to use a machine, fight for a square on the abs mat, and patiently wait to use the barbells. Now, members will have their pick as to what they want to use and when they can use it. If I want to stand in the open and do jumping jacks, I’ll be able to do it. Will I do jumping jacks in the new gym? No, but it’s refreshing that I’ll have the option to do so.
3. A Nice Lounge: Let’s say you finish your workout and need to wait for your friend. Or, let’s say you want to wait to meet a friend before working out. No problem! The new gym has 2 nice lounges with comfy chairs and sofas. In the past, the old gym didn’t really offer a nice place to wait. If you wanted to sit on a machine while your friend finished up, you got angry looks from the fitness center staff. If you waited in the hall way, you’d look socially awkward. With the new lounges, you can sit and wait in leisure. Or, you can go to the gym, sit in the lounge, and act as if you’re “swoll” and just got your pump on.
I too blogged about the IM building this week and can’t wait to be able to use it and everything it has to offer. Whether considered an “East Bro” or not, the IM is for everyone and is certainly turning in to a place that everyone should see. The amount of work put in to the building is finally paying off and I have yet to hear one negative comment about anything new in the building. The front of the building looks great and the new weight room looks amazing. It’s just a five minute walk for most people in East and I hope more people go to use it when it opens in it’s entirety. I’m jealous of the incoming freshman who will be able to use the new IM all of next year as opposed to the 2017 class who had to wait up until now, but you’ll be seeing me there just as much as anyone next year.
I’ve seen pictures of the newly renovated interior, and it looks awesome! I live in South so I normally go to the White Building to work out, but I definitely want to check it out at some point. A nice environment can really make a big impact on doing exercise (at least for me), so I think it’s great that they decided to renovate and that it turned out so well.