With the eventual addition of 28 new exercise machines and the reorganization of the free-weights area, the UREC Student Recreation Center is knee-deep in spring cleaning.
The UREC SRC unveiled its reorganized free-weight room layout Sunday, and about 31 pieces of equipment have been rearranged to maximize the space’s use, according to the LSU UREC website.
The SRC ordered 28 new machines for its facility, which will arrive in installments, according to the website.
“It will help things work more efficiently in the weight room,” said Lacee Breeden, UREC healthy lifestyles coordinator.
LSU UREC Director Laurie Braden said the newly organized weights section will arrange similar muscle group machines together to facilitate a simpler approach to working out.
“With the new setup people will not have to be walking from one side of the room to the other as often,” Braden said.
The free-weights portion of the UREC SRC was also designed with new weightlifting participants in mind, according to Braden.
“It’ll make weights more appealing to new lifters and less intimidating,” Braden said.
The cardio section of the exercise space received one new stepmill and three new recumbent bikes this past week, Braden said. Many other cardio machines will arrive in the coming weeks, including treadmills and upright bikes.
Twelve older cardio machines will be removed to make room for 12 new machines, according to Brad Wilson, LSU UREC interim associate director of operations and project management. The older cardio machines, mainly treadmills, have received 5 to 6 years of use and have logged thousands of miles in that time.
The cardio section will be filled to capacity in the near future with the addition of 16 new machines in addition to the 12 replacements, Wilson said.
“We are trying to get the most use out of the space and equipment we have,” Wilson said.
The free-weight and cardio areas will operate at capacity, Wilson said.
Funding for the UREC SRC’s facelift comes from earmarked reserves from LSU UREC’s profits from last year, Braden said.
“Every year we set money aside for priority projects we are looking to accomplish in the future,” Braden said.
The whole project will come in about $20,000 less than its $120,000 budget, according to Braden. Membership fees will not be affected by the improvements.
LSU UREC aims to complete the cardio and weight room improvements by the week of April 4, and they will definitely be finished by the end of the spring semester, Wilson said.
A number of factors were considered, including student opinion, when LSU UREC decided which machines to buy, Braden said.
Several cardio machines were brought in early to be used as demos, Wilson said. Student interest surveys were conducted, and the responses were generally positive.
All new machines were bought through a state bidding process, Braden said. A variety of companies won bids, and as a result a variety of machines and brands will be available.
“I like the changes. Everything is newer, fancier,” said James Washington, kinesiology senior and UREC employee.
Washington said students are adjusting well to the changes in equipment and layout.
Lauren Stavis, political science senior, thinks the new equipment is a positive change for the UREC SRC.
“The new equipment is nicer and cleaner,” Stavis said.
 
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Contact Josh Naquin at [email protected]