BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College unveiled its new state-of-the-art fitness center this week, to rave reviews.

At 10,000 square feet, it offers plenty of room for students, faculty and staff to work out on gleaming new cardio equipment and weight machines. Built as an addition on the front of the Breidegam Field House, the center overlooks the HUB quad and, on the interior, windows offer a view down into the ARC.

The center will be open December 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then closed until January 2. When it reopens on January 3, its hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. When classes resume on January 16, the center will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, summit climbers, stairmasters and rowers line up ready for use—30 of them in all. The Life Fitness equipment is all-new and offers special features including plugs for an iPod or headphones to access one of six 55-inch televisions.

In addition to the cardio equipment, a full line of Life Fitness Selectorized strength equipment covers every muscle group. There also is a large free-weight area as well as an area dedicated to abdominal/core workouts.

And three TRX suspension systems are located on one wall, offering exercises that use one's body weight for resistance.

"Some people will use everything in combination," said Bob Ward, Moravian's assistant athletic director and head athletic trainer. "It's a personal preference."

The former fitness center, now renamed the performance center, contains heavy weights, squat racks and Olympic platforms, which can be used to complement the machines in the fitness center. Between the two workout spaces, Moravian boasts more than 13,000 square feet of space for its student athletes and those who simply want to stay in shape.

Nearly a year ago, when students were polled about the elements that would improve their "Moravian experience," they overwhelmingly put a new fitness center in the top three.

"The students felt this was important, and we've more than tripled the size of the facility for them to use," said Ward.

"We are in the process now of hiring a fitness director/strength and conditioning coach, who will oversee overall operation of both rooms and will serve as a resource to students, faculty and staff in developing personalized fitness programs," he added.

A corps of student workers also will be trained in the operation of each machine, and will be available to help newcomers learn how to use the equipment safely.

Story & Photos by Brenda Lange