Following renovations last summer that helped cut wait times, the University of Minnesota’s Recreation and Wellness Center continues to make efforts to tackle overcrowding issues. 

Previous renovations included adding beginner-friendly, automatically adjusting machines on its main level and weight racks in the basement. With long lines during peak hours, these changes helped cut down on wait times, and with future changes coming this summer, the RecWell will continue its efforts.  

Young people today are commonly found in gyms, with 73% of Generation Z being members of health clubs and gyms, Athletech News reported. 

Fitness trends have caught the attention of many college students who frequently attend their university’s recreation centers. The RecWell is no different. With over 50,000 students, the University is among the most populated universities in the country. 

Daniel Gruess, a third-year student studying agricultural and food business management, said the RecWell is usually overcrowded and busy, especially during peak hours of the day. 

“I remember the first few days of the semester when everyone was going to the gym, it was really, really busy,” Gruess said. “Every machine that was nice had someone using it.” 

RecWell Fitness and Wellness Director Ben Kohler said he is aware of how busy the building is and has worked on making changes to improve wait times and equipment availability. 

Kohler said there is a lot that goes into adding new equipment and ensuring the RecWell is set up in the most efficient way for its users. 

“Let’s figure out how this space is currently being used, what parts are being overused, and where people are waiting in long lines to use equipment and what parts are being maybe underused,” Kohler said. 

The renovation project, which took place last summer, involved the redoing of the lower level and adding racks that can be used for all sorts of different movements with or without a barbell.  

Tim Turek, a fourth-year student at the University studying kinesiology, said the addition of the racks on the lower level has been helpful to students and improved wait times. 

“I think having more athletic racks allows people to not only squat, but do more benching, because we only had, what, three benches before? Yeah, they helped a lot,” Turek said.

Kohler said the RecWell is continuing to improve. The main priority when looking at changing parts of the RecWell is student feedback.

Kohler and his team put QR codes throughout the building where students can scan and voice their opinion on what they would like to see the RecWell add. He also brought in focus groups to allow students to further express their opinions.

“We asked the students, ‘Which of these ideas do you think fits best with how you would want to use the facility?’ And then we wrote out the specifications for the design based on that student feedback,” Kohler said.

Through this process, the RecWell will be remodeling and adding equipment to one of the areas in the south gym this summer. The three tiers that are available next to the ramp on the right side will all be redone within the next few years, Kohler said.

“We’re completely redesigning the second tier,” Kohler said. “The big red unit that’s in the middle of that second cable and stuff, that whole space is getting redesigned this summer, and the process was super student-focused.”

Students can expect to see more popular machines being installed this summer, according to Kohler. There will be more cable machines, smith machines and leg-focused machines.

“Those are things that students really are looking for right now,” Kohler said.

With more options coming this summer and future projects in the works, the RecWell is doing everything it can to help improve student experience and minimize wait times. 

Kohler said the goal will always be to provide students with an inclusive and enjoyable experience and environment at the RecWell. 

“We know that with all of the mental health crisis going on campuses, and the added stress of being a college student, sometimes the Rec Center is the best part of your day,” Kohler said. “We want you to look forward to it and remember it as a happy space. That’s really my focus and my goal and why I do what I do.”