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After more than a year of work, and much more planning, the new Trojan Fitness Center opened on the Troy University campus on Wednesday as students returned to campus.

The university broke ground on the $25 million, 78,000 square foot recreation center in January 2018 and students lined up to get their access fobs on Wednesday.

“This is the gateway of Troy University,” said TROY Board of Trustees member Lamar P. Higgins, who also serves as chair of the Student Services Committee. “It’s large, it’s diverse, and it’s making us ready for the future.”

The building will house a multi-activity court, a basketball court, a free-weight training area, a circuit weight training area, special aerobic rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, a multi-level walking track and four offices.

Terry Fuller, fitness and wellness coordinator, showed the center off on Wednesday, displaying the wide variety of equipment available to students as well as sharing plans for the facility.

“This is the best view in the whole facility,” Fuller said as she led the way out onto a wide third-floor balcony overlooking Trojan Terrace. “We’ll be having sunrise and sunset yoga classes up here and so many people have already talked about having graduation photos here. It’s beautiful.”

Back inside the facility, Fuller pointed out one of the high-tech ellipticals, one of the many kinds of state-of-the-art fitness equipment within the center.

The elliptical was equipped with a touch screen interface that allows users to choose from a wide variety of workout routines while also giving access to apps such as Netflix for students to use while they’re working out. The equipment can even sync to a phone app that will transfer the data from the exercise to the phone to accurately calculate stats and help plan toward goals.

In addition to the workout areas, the facility also has several individual shower rooms and changing rooms and has locker space. The facility also has a lounge for students to relax before or after their workouts and even play a game of ping pong or pool.

There is a health food store located near the lobby and an outdoor pool will soon join the amenities with an expected opening in March.

“Not only will it be instrumental in serving those who are currently enrolled, but it will also be an attraction for those who are considering where they want to spend their next four years,” said University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. “As we talk about recruitment and retention, this will add so much value, and there is a strong link between physical fitness and academic success.”

“To the students of Troy University, I want to express how thankful we are, because it was the students who brought this idea to us and said, ‘We want to make this happen,’” Higgins said.