From a heart-pounding sprint on a new treadmill to a quiet stretch during yoga class, anyone on campus seeking to maintain or improve their physical wellbeing will find something to do at the new fitness center set to open on April 22 in the Albert Sherman Center (ASC).
“A strong priority for our students from the start of planning for the Albert Sherman Center, this new facility will be an outstanding addition to our campus, promoting individual fitness and community health,” said Terence R. Flotte, MD, the Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor of Medical Education, executive deputy chancellor, provost, dean of the School of Medicine and professor of pediatrics and microbiology & physiological systems.
Located near the top of the grand staircase on the third floor of the ASC, the fitness center has locker rooms, showers, a large open exercise area and a separate studio for group classes. Fitness equipment will include eight treadmills, six elliptical machines, 14 strength stations, four stationary bikes, two rowing machines, free weights and a Synrgy 360 group training center.
Membership in the new fitness center is open to all UMass Chan students, faculty and staff. Employees of UMass Memorial Medical Center who work on the University Campus are also eligible to join.
The membership fee for the new center is $25 per month. No long-term contract or commitment is required. A one-time enrollment fee of $29 will be waived for anyone who joins the center during the month of April. After that time, new members will be assessed the enrollment fee in addition to the monthly fee.
The membership fee includes use of the exercise equipment, access to the showers and locker rooms. It also includes participation in most of the group exercise classes to be offered which will include yoga, Pilates, group cycling, core conditioning, boot camp and a running club. A Zumba class and personal training services will be offered for additional fees.
AdvantageHealth Corporation has been selected to operate and manage the new center. It’s the same firm that has managed the university’s South Street fitness center in Shrewsbury since 2008. Staff from AdvantageHealth will be on campus during the week of April 8 at information tables set up in key public locations to answer questions and to begin registration for those who wish to join the new center.
“A common question we are getting is whether or not students have to sign-up, or if they will be automatically enrolled in the center,” said Kris Keykal of AdvantageHealth. “And the answer is that no one is automatically enrolled, so students do have to register and complete the paper work to access the center. So we encourage anyone interested in learning more to come visit us this week.”
Fitness center staff will be available on campus at these times and locations:
· Tuesday April 9 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the second floor of the Albert Sherman Center.
· Wednesday April 10 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lazare Research Building café.
· Thursday April 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Medical School lobby and the Lazare Research Building café.
· Friday April 12 from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Albert Sherman Center.
Beginning on April 22, the fitness center will be open to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The center will be staffed Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. For additional questions contact Karen Neal, fitness center manager, at: karen.neal@umassmed.edu.
