Nelson Fieldhouse construction nears completion
Though scheduled to be completed on Aug. 23, the Nelson Fieldhouse, a popular and often crowded fitness center for USU students, will not be completed for student use until Sept. 13.
“When we first did the renovation a couple of years ago we knew that the facility would be too small,” said Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Scott Wamsley. “After it was completed, the facility was soon outgrown. We had so many students that were using the facility, so we decided to expand the floor and make it bigger.”
Wamsley said he was thrilled that the students outgrew the fieldhouse.
“It would have been really sad had we done the expansion and nobody used it,” he said. “Students wanted a place to work out … and its just been an absolute thrill to provide this for them. They were the ones that asked for it and wanted it and we’re happy to do it for them.”
Plans for the expansion started in January of this year. Wamsley said the money for the renovation came from the Stadium-Spectrum bond.
The construction was supposed to be completed and the fieldhouse ready for use on Aug. 23, but the opening date has been pushed back to Sept. 13 for many reasons. Along with a shipment of steel that came later than planned, the building also had a sprinkler system for fires installed which also took longer than expected.
However, Wamsley believes that the wait will definitely be worth it for the students.
“This facility is as nice as any that I have seen at any other universities,” he said. “I think ours is better than a lot that I have seen. It will be nice for the students.”
Some of the changes that have been made will make it easier for students to use the facility, Wamsley said. The upper level has been expanded and several new machines have been added, including 15 more treadmills, 13 more elliptical machines, six more recumbent bikes and eight more spinning bikes.
Along with the additions of the old equipment, Campus Recreation has also added many Hammer Strength weight training machines, rated as the No. 1 weight-training equipment among many fitness magazines.
When he met with people from the ASUSU Executive Council, they all said Hammer Strength was what they liked and what they worked out on, Wamsley said.
Wamsley also said the cardiovascular machines and other weight training machines in the fieldhouse are top-of-the-line.
“I just hope that the students just keep using the facility,” he said. “We want them to use it and … take care of it. It’s their money that built the expanded part and bought the equipment.”
Along with the new equipment, the billiards tables from the Bull Pen, formerly located in the Taggert Student Center, have also been added to the Fieldhouse. This means that the billiards classes will be moved there as well.
Future plans for fieldhouse renovations include an elevator and other equipment for those with disabilities to use.
“We just hope that they [the students] are pleased and happy with it,” Wamsley said.
-aedmunds@cc.usu.edu