Students heading to the University Recreation Center this semester might notice some sizable changes to the facilities. 

The changes were not widely announced, leaving many students to discover them on their own during their workouts. 

“I walked upstairs one day over the summer and everything was just different,” said Josiah Thurlby, a junior finance and economics double major. 

One of the racquetball courts is gone, replaced with a new fitness area and new equipment, including a weight sled track, movement-focused gear and more cable machines and free weights.

Some students said they wish the university had spread the word a bit more, especially given how much students have wanted updates to the University Recreation Center for years. 

“My roommate sent me a video, otherwise I’d have no idea it existed,” Chris Taylor, a sophomore finance major, said.

Crowding in the weight room has been a common complaint among students, especially during its peak hours in the late afternoon. Students often have to wait for benches, racks or other popular machines.

The changes seem to open up more floor space, giving students room for stretching, warmups and movement based workouts. 

“I had to start lifting in the mornings because the rec is way too crowded during regular hours,” said Luke Schauwecker, a junior finance and accounting double major and avid health enthusiast.

He and other students said the new equipment is already helping workouts feel smoother and wait times shorter.

For now, the University Recreation Center has yet to announce any further updates.