Satellite fitness center set to open at McGovern Medical School
For those who have always wanted a return of a fitness center to the Medical School Building, the wait is almost over.
A 2,000-square-foot space on the upper floor of McGovern Medical School will be the future home to the UTHealth Houston Satellite Fitness Center. The space will include two single-user restrooms with showers, a locker area, and exercise equipment, including treadmills, stationary bikes, rowers, ellipticals, and weight machines for arms and legs.
The space will not be staffed but will be operated by the UTHealth Houston Recreation Center and will be available to UTHealth Houston members of the Recreation Center with badge access to the medical school.
“The goal of Facilities and Auxiliary Services is to provide convenient services at affordable rates that serve the needs of faculty, residents, staff, and students at UTHealth Houston so they can focus on the missions of the university,” said William (Wes) Stewart, vice president of Facilities and Auxiliary Services and a lead advocate of the project.
Kevin Dillon, senior EVP and chief operating officer, added: “Although we have an excellent, large-scale Rec. Center on our South Campus, nearly half of the UTHealth Houston community works or learns on the North Campus, in and around McGovern Medical School. Having a small satellite fitness center on site will significantly reduce travel time and provide an opportunity for students and employees to fit physical training sessions into their busy schedules.”
The facility is expected to open within the year.
Construction will be overseen by Julie Lucas and Hai Dinh, Facilities Project Management. Pauline Habetz and Sarah Galecki, who manage the UTHealth Houston Recreation Center, will oversee procurement of equipment and manage operations once open. Claire Brunson, executive director of Management Services at McGovern Medical School, will lead a committee of roughly 20 faculty, staff, residents, and students from the Medical School to offer an end-user perspective.
McGovern Medical School formerly was home to a fitness center on the upper floor of the building, which opened in 1978. That facility was closed in 2001, following Tropical Storm Allison and major subsequent renovation to the building.
“Over the last six years, Facilities has been replacing all major mechanical and electrical systems on the upper floor,” Stewart explained. “Much of that space is now filled with new electrical and mechanical replacement equipment and is now classified as ‘mechanical space,’ which is not conducive to other functions. However, Facilities determined that it is possible to safely construct a small fitness center there while maintaining security and separation from these mechanical spaces.”
For more information, please contact william.w.stewart@uth.tmc.edu.