Over winter break, the College re-organized the atrium of the Zimmerman Fitness Center, the workout hub for non-varsity athletes. The changes — including new decor, moving workout machines and upgrading electrical capabilities — prompted mixed responses from students.
Senior associate athletics director for regulatory affairs and recreation J.B. Weber wrote in an email statement that the changes to the layout were part of a broader “three-phrase, donor-funded” upgrade that began last fall that will also add new equipment and turf to the center in the next few weeks.
“We are always looking for opportunities to improve to provide the best experience for our students, faculty, staff and the local community at large,” Weber wrote.
Front desk associate Hailey Rorick ’26 said the new layout was the “biggest change” she’s seen at the gym over the last four years, adding that she found the changes “exciting.”
“There’s a lot more school colors and school representation going on here,” Rorick said. “I’m excited to see what they have in store.”
Rorick noted, however, that she had received some complaints from gymgoers.
“We have limited access to certain treadmills and bikes … [which] people haven’t liked so far,” she said.
Gym user Ameya Deo ’27 said that he’s “not the biggest fan” of the new layout.
“There’s a lot of open space in the middle that’s not being used well enough, and there’s not enough benches on the main floor anymore,” Deo said.
Ava Davis ’28 agreed, adding that she was “not huge” on the open space and that she felt the gym equipment was “a lot more cramped.”
“I don’t know why they switched everything around,” Davis said. “I feel like it was fine how it was before.”
Andrew Wang ’29, however, said that he liked that the new layout “allows for more traffic.”
“During the old setup, we weren’t allowed to walk through the middle,” Wang said. “[Now] it definitely is way easier to go from free weights on the right side of the gym to machines on the left side.”
Wang added that he liked the new organization of fitness equipment.
“The machines are more clustered into specific muscle groups,” Wang said. “So it’s easier, for new people or even people who go often to hit all the right muscle groups.”
Deo agreed, adding that the fitness equipment is “sectioned out pretty well now.”
“If you’re hitting a specific muscle group, you can stay in that area,” Deo said. “I think it’s a smarter layout.”
Wang said the placement of mirrors directly in front of treadmills was “a bit unsettling.”
“I stare at myself when I run on the treadmill,” Wang said. “My eyes don’t really have another place to go, which is something I don’t like.”
Deo said that he’s “still getting used to” the new layout.
“Finding machines is a bit harder, finding benches is a bit harder,” Deo said. “[But] I’ll get used to it, and it will be fine.”
