2008 Woodie Awards
Renovations Planned for Panzer Gym Facilities
Cost of Construction Project Has Not Been Determined, Administration Says
Meaghan McCallum
Issue date: 11/11/04 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Montclair State University administration is in the process of developing plans for upcoming Panzer Gym renovations. The expansion of the Panzer Gym renovations have yet to be determined, but the administration has always anticipated and recognized the need for adjustments to be made in order to accommodate athletes and students who utilize the gym, Director of Architectural and Engineering Services Douglas Cooper said.
The Administration plans to begin construction after the new academic building is completed, but the length of the process remains to be determined, said Cooper.
The delay has occurred because the administration does not want the renovations to interfere with students' ability to utilize Panzer while construction is in progress, said Cooper.
The new student recreation center is set to begin construction in the summer of 2005.
After completion, the Panzer Gym will no longer be utilized as heavily as it is now, Fonseca said.
After the new recreation center has been built, it is projected that Panzer will service mainly athletes and offer physical education classes. In comparison, the new center will be open to everyone, from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., said Keith Fonseca, director of campus recreation.
Questions about the University's ability to cover expansion costs are still in discussion, considering that the administration has not decided what facilities are going to be renovated, said Holly Gera, director of intercollegiate athletes.
"The financing of the renovations will be part of the discussions during the planning phase," said Cooper.
There is an agreement between students and gym faculty on what needs to be improved at the Panzer Gym.
"[Some problems I face are] bad lighting, dirty floors, broken weight machines, and unwashed gymnastic mats and fitness center equipment," said Diana Anteri, senior physical education major.
"[Panzer Gym needs improvement in] the fitness center, general equipment, gym lighting, and flooring...[the Panzer Gym] is not satisfactory for high-level athletic training," Fonseca said.
"New equipment and renovations would be awesome," said Nancy Brophy, sophomore physical education major.
According to Cooper, "since [Panzer's] construction in the mid to late 50's, the facility has remained virtually unchanged [with the exception of] minor renovations including the addition of the pool in 1967 and addition of the elevator in 2001."
"Upgrades to the facility have always been envisioned by the administration," Cooper said.
The Administration plans to begin construction after the new academic building is completed, but the length of the process remains to be determined, said Cooper.
The delay has occurred because the administration does not want the renovations to interfere with students' ability to utilize Panzer while construction is in progress, said Cooper.
The new student recreation center is set to begin construction in the summer of 2005.
After completion, the Panzer Gym will no longer be utilized as heavily as it is now, Fonseca said.
After the new recreation center has been built, it is projected that Panzer will service mainly athletes and offer physical education classes. In comparison, the new center will be open to everyone, from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., said Keith Fonseca, director of campus recreation.
Questions about the University's ability to cover expansion costs are still in discussion, considering that the administration has not decided what facilities are going to be renovated, said Holly Gera, director of intercollegiate athletes.
"The financing of the renovations will be part of the discussions during the planning phase," said Cooper.
There is an agreement between students and gym faculty on what needs to be improved at the Panzer Gym.
"[Some problems I face are] bad lighting, dirty floors, broken weight machines, and unwashed gymnastic mats and fitness center equipment," said Diana Anteri, senior physical education major.
"[Panzer Gym needs improvement in] the fitness center, general equipment, gym lighting, and flooring...[the Panzer Gym] is not satisfactory for high-level athletic training," Fonseca said.
"New equipment and renovations would be awesome," said Nancy Brophy, sophomore physical education major.
According to Cooper, "since [Panzer's] construction in the mid to late 50's, the facility has remained virtually unchanged [with the exception of] minor renovations including the addition of the pool in 1967 and addition of the elevator in 2001."
"Upgrades to the facility have always been envisioned by the administration," Cooper said.