Benedictine University unveiling new fitness center

When renovations of the Dan and Ada Rice Center began at Benedictine University, students wanting indoor exercise had access to only about four or five cardio exercise machines and an underused swimming pool.

But come Monday, when the renovated building opens for student, faculty and staff use, they’ll trade the often-empty pool for a full fitness center and weight training room on the university’s campus in Lisle.

Officials planning the $6.7 million renovation decided to ditch the pool and add the two workout areas as well as new offices and classrooms.

“We decided a better use would be for a fitness center because we didn’t have one,” said John Morris, associate vice president for advancement.

A studio room that can be used for dance, yoga or Pilates classes is another amenity the campus lacked before the Rice Center renovations, Benedictine spokesman Phil Brozynski said.

The athletic training room also was expanded and updated. It now has space for more treatment tables for taping ankles and helping injured athletes stretch, as well as hot and cold pools for warming or icing muscles.

“This is much, much more advanced,” Brozynski said.

The top floor of the renovated area holds a 4,200-square-foot strength training zone that can be used by the entire university community, but contains equipment such as 125-pound barbells that make it a top-notch spot for Benedictine athletes to practice.

“This is a Division I facility at a Division III school,” Mark McHorney, Benedictine’s director of athletics, said.

Replacing the ramps leading to the upper floor of the Rice Center and completely redoing the lobby rounded out renovations to the building, which was constructed in the 1970s using money from donors Dan and Ada Rice. The Dan and Ada Rice Foundation contributed a chunk of funding for the improvements, and so did more than 900 other donors, Morris said.

Rice Center renovations are part of a master plan for campus improvements, Brozynski said. Upgrades scheduled for the coming months include redoing the locker rooms and adding a parking lot west of the building.

The university also is working to raise $15 million to build a performing arts center to house a concert hall and an art gallery.