After one year and $16.3 million of construction and rennovation, Southwest Recreation Center reopened its doors last Wednesday.
Students seeking a fitness fix are enjoying the newly renovated center, which has been under construction since Aug. 25.
The center was expanded by 40,000 square feet, and much of the pre-existing space was also renovated, according to the UF RecSports website.
And while gym-goers are enjoying the renovations, there are other areas that some students would still like to see changed.
Justin McKenzie, a telecommunications senior, said he likes the new indoor track but said he would like to see additions made to the racquetball courts.
Ryan Chilton, an engineering graduate student, said he wishes the center had expanded the weight room in addition to the cardio room.
He also disagreed with RecSports' decision to add an indoor track.
"We live in Florida," he said. "You don't have to go inside to walk or ride your bike - maybe if we lived in a snowy place."
But Rohan Dass, a microbiology and cell-science transfer student, said the cost of the renovation was worth it because it will persuade more students to exercise - it has even encouraged him to run more.
"I actually don't normally use a track," Dass said. "I'm actually not even much of a runner, but I just started because of Southwest Rec."
Although he never saw the gym before renovations began, Dass said he's been going to the gym more than five days a week since moving to Gainesville a month ago.
He said the weight room normally gets crowded, and it'd be nice to see a few more benches and dumbbells.
While the project isn't completely done, David Bowles, director of RecSports, said there are only minor updates remaining, including a wall that needs to be repainted and a replacement for a counter.
"It's running great," Bowles said. "Students walk in ... and their mouths drop."
The center is under warranty for a year with the contractor, PPI Construction Management, so RecSports can ask the contractor to work on anything that needs to be fixed or upgraded during that interval.
Because Southwest Recreation Center's expansions have freed up space at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center, he also said RecSports will see how to expand the strength and conditioning room at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center.
RecSports is having a grand opening for the center on Tuesday at 4 p.m. with speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the new facility, according to Bowles.
Following the grand opening, RecSports will host the RecSports Extravaganza, which will "show everything we have to offer students with RecSports," Bowles said.
Both events are featured on RecSports' Facebook group.
Students exit UF's Southwest Rec Center Sunday night.
