Returning students living in Piano Row this semester have likely noticed some changes, particularly the use of entirely new entrances to the residence halls. This is due to the new fitness center, which will officially open on Monday morning.
When and where will the new fitness center be built?
Ronald Smithers, associate athletic director for Emerson’s Sports Performance and Fitness Center, said the planning stages for the new fitness center were underway before the pandemic.
Talk of building a new fitness center in the old Piano Row lobby began for multiple reasons, including increased popularity, ease of access, and overall improvements to the former gym.
What improvements will the new center bring?
The new fitness center will be larger than the current gym at 52 Summer Street, measuring more than 13,000 square feet instead of the previous 9,000 square feet, said Duncan Pollock, vice president of facilities and on-campus services. The fitness center will be on two floors. Piano Row Gym has equipment installed at the street entrance, unlike previous fitness centers that had entrances that lead to elevators that took students to the third and fourth floors of the building, with more on the lower floors. The machine will be installed.
Related | Photo: Exclusive first look at Emerson’s new state-of-the-art 13,000 square foot fitness center
However, the new fitness center will be larger than the previous location in many ways, not just in size. Piano Row’s new fitness center will allow more people to train at once by adding more weights. Pollock said a secondary weight room with dumbbells has been set up to minimize wait times for those who want to use free weights.
In addition to an additional weight room, there will also be an indoor sprint area for those looking to get in some cardio. The sprint area is one long strip, allowing runners to get a good short distance workout as part of their daily routine. All-new Life Fitness training equipment will also be installed, rather than reusing old gym equipment.
What will happen to the old fitness center?
Emerson College does not intend to recycle old equipment used in the 52 Summer St. building, Smithers said. In fact, the university did not own the property and leased the property where the old gym was located, so the old gym will be closed as soon as the new fitness center opens.
“It’s going to be amazing.”
Pollack said the new improvements, along with the gym’s convenient location, will encourage more people to use Piano Row Gym compared to the old gym.
“Everyone in Emerson now feels like they have to walk to 52 Summer Street,” Pollock said. With the gym on campus, sidewalk traffic is expected to increase, he added.
“I’m excited to not have to walk four blocks to work out,” said Cameron Brown, a theater and performance major who frequents the old fitness center.
Nalea Lydia Kriel, a cross country runner at Emerson, has never used the old gym for walks, but she plans on going to the new one.
The university is prepared to handle the expected increase in fitness center attendance, especially among first-time gym goers. The fitness center staff has degrees in exercise science and will continue to provide instruction to those new to the concept of weight training.
“Our staff is there to teach people how to use the equipment properly,” Smithers said.
Smithers hopes the location change will allow more people to access the gym facilities and enjoy the fitness opportunities Emerson offers.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Smithers said.
