The Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center is scheduled to open March 1, but parts of it may open early, said Jerry Brewer, director of student life.
"During the month of February it will be open on some limited basis," Brewer said. But March 1 is "the day we've been working with for two or three years."
Herbert Camp, director of campus recreation, said that the basketball courts, and possibly the indoor track, would be included in these early openings if construction on them is completed.
Camp also said that nearer to the opening date there will be an open house for students, but no date has been set.
They are planning a visit from Strom Thurmond as well, said Brewer, but it has not been scheduled.
The Wellness Center has been under construction since September 2000 and will include the newest technology and resources.
"It's a total upgrade to what you're looking at now," Brewer said. "Just think of the best facility you've ever been to and multiply that by five times and that will be the one available to you March 1."
"The number of pieces of equipment is through the roof," Brewer said. "They're the most modern pieces of equipment available."
The third floor is devoted to cardiovascular exercise. It has a track one-seventh of a mile long as well as treadmills equipped with video screens and DVD players.
Also available to students, are indoor and outdoor pools, a sand volleyball court, a Jacuzzi and sauna, several racquetball and squash courts, basketball courts and a 52-foot tall rock-climbing wall.
Student groups and clubs will be able to reserve some spaces for banquets and gatherings, including the outdoor pool area.
Despite the amount of work being done to the wellness center, Brewer said the construction is on schedule.
"Each time I bring someone down here they say, 'You're going to open March 1?' Well, you should've seen it two weeks ago," Brewer said. "You would've thought I was crazier than I am, but we're going to be open March 1."
Devon Hawkins, a second-year sports and entertainment management student, said he is anxious for the center to open.
"The Strom Thurmond Center will be nicer because it's closer to where I live," Hawkins said.
Third-year statistics student Lindsey Martin said she works out with the crew team every morning and does not like how overcrowded the Blatt PE Center is.
"I've never seen so many people in one place in my entire life," Martin said.
"I think it's going to be much bigger, have more equipment and be much nicer than the old PE center," said Shandall Johnson, a third-year exercise-science student. "I think it's going to add a lot to the university."
"When this opens in March, there will not be a better building of this type on a college campus," Brewer said. "This will be the best, from an aesthetic standpoint and from a functioning standpoint."
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