UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Campus Recreation has recently added an exciting enhancement to the Intramural Building that will provide a space for members to engage in functional fitness, plyometrics and core workouts.
As of January 2020, Campus Recreation completed a student fee funded enhancement of Room 12 in the Intramural Building. The room features state-of-the-art functional fitness equipment, including a dual Queenax Bridge system that provides the flexibility to create unique group functional and suspended bodyweight training areas while also preserving the open floor space in the room. The Queenax Bridge setup is the largest of its kind in Pennsylvania and the second largest in the United States. Room 12, located in the basement level of the building and across from the locker rooms, has three primary functions and areas that it fulfills -- informal recreation, small group training, and kinesiology classes.
When asked about Room 12, Jason Werle, associate director of campus recreation for facilities and operations, had nothing but praise and excitement. “The equipment in the room now provides an opportunity for Campus Recreation members to have a fully functional fitness area where they can engage in a wide scope of activities to enhance their fitness goals.” With the opening of Room 12, Campus Recreation has designated times each day when any member can use the facility. For the hours of Room 12, visit the Campus Recreation hours of operation page on the Student Affairs website.
Fitness and Wellness, a unit within Campus Recreation, oversees the small group training program that is benefiting from the room enhancements. Small group fitness programs are a fun alternative to larger group fitness classes, but still small enough for more personal instructional time with the trainer.
When asked about Room 12, Jill Garrigan, assistant director of campus recreation for fitness and wellness, said, “We will benefit tremendously from all of the new equipment. Having a Queenax system in place is so awesome because it can be configured in so many ways to benefit our fitness programs.”
Garrigan went on to describe that Fitness and Wellness is currently running 12 different weekly programs in Room 12 ranging from Small Group Strength Training to Express Boot Camp classes. These programs require an additional fee but encompass a number of activities with a personalized certified fitness instructor. Fitness and Wellness also offers more than 100 free weekly fitness classes for Campus Recreation members. To learn more about these programs, visit the Fitness and Wellness page on the Student Affairs website.
Room 12 also carries academic significance. The Kinesiology program will utilize this room to conduct a number of classes throughout the academic year. In these classes, students have the opportunity to be introduced to physical fitness or expand on their existing fitness knowledge. For more information on Room 12, visit the Penn State Campus Recreation website.