HRS exercise facility debut delayed until fall

The rooftop lounge will house equipment and an aerobics workout space. A new recreational facility containing exercise equipment and aerobics space in High Rise South will definitely be in place next fall, officials announced last night. Penn administrators had previously promised the facility would open in the building's rooftop lounge this semester. But construction was delayed in order to allow engineers to carefully survey the location, Associate Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta said. "We wanted it done right," he explained, adding that having engineers inspect the floor of the lounge to ensure that it could sustain the added weight of exercise equipment took longer than anticipated. Moneta, Recreation Director Mike Diorka and Assistant Director for Upperclass Students in Residence Rodney Robinson discussed the latest details of the facility at a meeting of the student Residential Advisory Board last night. The proposed workout space is the result of a collaborative effort between RAB and the student-run Tangible Change Committee to find new uses for the rooftop lounges and Rathskellar Lounges in the three high rises. Many students have described the University's current exercise facilities as inadequate. Moneta promised that "one way or another," the facility will be ready for business by the fall. There is, however, a possibility that parts of the facility will open at the end of this semester, according to RAB Chairperson Emily Pollack, a College sophomore. Robinson added that a delayed opening would allow the fitness center to debut at the same time as the new College House system -- which will reorganize the University's residences into 12 college houses with enhanced programming and added staff. The new exercise facility will house cardiovascular equipment -- such as stair climbers, ski machines, rowing machines and stationary bikes -- as well as a mirror-lined aerobics area. According to Pollack, students will be able to use the equipment for free. But students enrolled in aerobics classes would be charged a fee in a procedure similar to that taken at the Gimbel and Hutchinson Gymnasiums. The fitness center will be open to all students, not just high rise residents -- at least in the beginning. "Right now the plans are to make it accessible to anyone who's interested," Pollack said. "If there are problems with that, adjustments will have to be made." Pollack said her main concern initially was the "noise factor." But she said she feels assured that the padding which will line the floor of the lounge will be "definitely sufficient" to block noise from the floors below. Moneta said preparing the lounge for its future use will be "a moderate expense," although he does not yet know the exact cost.