“Our goal is to open by Jan. 3, but we are not 100 percent sure that this will happen.”
– Steven Mohar, director of the Klotsche Center

As construction at the Klotsche Center is wrapping up and new equipment is arriving, the enhanced facility is scheduled to open its doors to students early next month.

“Our goal is to open by January 3rd, but we are not 100 percent sure that this will happen,” said Steven Mohar, director of the Klotsche Center.

The facility will feature a fitness center that is twice the size of its existing one, complete with a two-story glass window.

“The windows are a huge step up,” Mohar said. “Students will no longer feel like they are working out in their basements.”

The new fitness center will include new strength-training equipment on the bottom floor, taking up 6,000 square feet. A 2,000-square foot balcony sheltering 42 cardio machines will overlook the weight room.

This is a drastic upgrade, as in the past, students had to fight over four elliptical machines, one of which had mechanical problems.

Students will also be offered a wider array of group fitness classes, including water aerobics, cardio kick box, cardio mix, core crunch, jab blast and women’s self-defense.

Mohar said group fitness space was added to train students on how to instruct classes. Students are offered classes at no additional charge, with the exception of some that are specialized. Group fitness classes will not be offered until about three months after the Klotsche Center reopens.

Other features of the new building include a four-court gymnasium with an elevated jogging track, a weight room for the athletic department, a student commons area, a new entry point and a parking structure.

The underground parking structure has five levels, and accommodates 620 parking spots, with an additional 32 surface spaces. One of the main reasons in renovating the facility is to make it more accessible to students on a general basis, Mohar said.

Additional classrooms and offices for the athletic department will also be implemented. The athletic offices located in Merrill Hall will move to the new building, easing overcrowding in other departments.

Once the new building is opened, some areas will continue to be under construction.

“I’m hoping students will be proud of what we have done,” Mohar said. “I think it’s a very open and inviting facility, and it’ll be a great addition to our campus.”

Admission to the Klotsche Center is free to students with a valid student ID, as it is supported through segregated fees. Annual memberships for staff and faculty are $190, $225 for alumni and $300 for community memberships. Mohar expects that all rates will be adjusted in the upcoming academic year.

The Klotsche Center is open Monday through Thursday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Special hours during vacation are posted on the center’s Web site at www.uwm.edu/Dept/klotsche/.

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