I am very pleased to inform the campus community and in particular, our students, of exciting plans underway to convert the ground floor of Palisano Pavilion into an undergraduate student fitness center scheduled to open at some point during the 2019-20 academic year.
Fitness centers on college campuses have become a required amenity. For several years, students have voiced their concerns over the lack of general student fitness and recreation space. Currently, they are sharing the Pastor Weight and Aerobic Center in the Koessler Athletic Center with our intercollegiate athletes but students report that they are often unable to use the center because our varsity teams have scheduled weight-lifting days and times.
We are reviewing the final draft of the college’s new Facilities Master Plan, which will be presented to the Board of Trustees at its May meeting. As part of that process, students, faculty and staff were surveyed and the need for a fitness center for general student use came through as a high priority. We reviewed possible sites for this facility and are convinced that Palisano will work best. I have confirmed with our staff in Student Affairs that we can make alternative arrangements for the events currently held in Palisano.
We are working with the college’s architects on the plans for the fitness center and hope to have them finalized in the coming weeks. The center will feature an array of cardio machines including treadmills, ellipticals, stationery bicycles and weightlifting equipment. There will be changing rooms and showers for students who live off-campus and/or commute.
We hope to secure financial support for the fitness facility from donors. We will also include this as a fundraising option on Giving Day scheduled for next Wednesday, April 3.
A new fitness center will enhance the student experience and make Canisius a more attractive choice for prospective students. We look forward to unveiling this exciting new project at Accepted Student Day this Sunday, March 31.
John J. Hurley
President
