‘Spectacular’ Belk Gym lauded at re-opening celebration

A bigger, better Belk Gym was on display Monday as campus leaders, students, faculty and staff celebrated the re-opening of a facility built in 1970.

Belk Gym serves recreational and academic functions, and the renovations required collaboration between the divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. At the Jan. 11 celebration, Chancellor Philip L. Dubois said the results were “spectacular.” More than 8,400 square feet of dedicated fitness space was added by the renovation. Other improvements included a modernized HVAC system; redesigned main entrance, lobby and locker rooms; and increased lighting and way-finding amenities.

The Recreational Services Department manages the overall facility, which includes the fitness center and weight room; cycling and group fitness studios; basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts. The department also programs the group fitness classes, sport clubs and intramural sports activities.

“This renovation goes a long way toward meeting the needs of our ever-growing student population,” said Jim Walczyk, director of recreational services. “Our students can now enjoy an improved facility that will provide not only a top quality educational experience but will enhance their recreational opportunities with increased space and time for rec activities, new equipment related to strength, cardio and additional group fitness activities. In addition, these improvements will allow students to fulfill their physical activity needs without going off campus creating better use of their time, increase social interactions with peers on campus and maintain an overall better life balance which is critical to their success academically.”

Scott Gordon, chair of kinesiology, said the Belk Gym renovation was opportune for that department.

“Our student enrollment has more than doubled over the past five years to nearly 1,300 students,” said Gordon. “This renovation supports the department’s mission with numerous upgrades providing learning environments that will enhance student education and marketability upon graduation.”

Kinesiology is the study of the science of movement, stated Gordon, and “our faculty study and teach concepts using a bench-to-bedside approach. The molecular and genetic bases of physical activity for health; exercise as a diagnostic or rehabilitation tool in clinics; mechanisms of musculoskeletal injury prevention and healing; and issues like respiratory health, sleep hygiene and nutrition are within our areas of expertise.”

Among the state-of-the-art academic facilities completed as part of the renovation are five high-tech classrooms; enhanced and expanded teaching laboratory facilities for exercise science, athletic training and the master’s program in kinesiology; expanded and upgraded space for the Biodynamics Research Laboratory; and the addition of a Health Risk Assessment Laboratory, which will use the latest technology to test people for a broad range of health risk factors.

Named in honor of Katherine and Tom Belk in recognition of their generosity and service to the University, Belk Gym was in near-constant use for decades prior to its closure in June 2014 for renovations.

According to the chancellor, the roughly $20 million retrofit required six different fund sources, reflecting the building’s multiple functions, including recreation, exercise, instruction and research.

“I’d like to acknowledge our folks in FM (facilities management) and the Budget Office who worked together and were very creative in figuring out how to pay for this renovation,” he said.

View more photos from the re-opening celebration and of the completed renovations.