The new Life Fitness Center opened in the newly renovated Sports Pavilion this semester.

The center was an addition to the Sports Pavilion during its renovation and includes a cardiovascular area with various machines, a strength training area and a circuit-training section.

“I’ve been at this school 23 years, and this is the deluxe gym,” said Pilates instructor Debbie Ekda. “It’s like a rebirth of the center.”

Among new improvements, there are two separate sound systems for each of the center’s two rooms.

The wood paneling on the walls and ceilings may look familiar, as the bleachers from the old Sports Pavilion were recycled for the renovation.

In addition to new equipment, the center now includes more windows that line the upper half of the gym walls.

“I really like that we have more natural light,” said instructional aide Cassie Clark.

The facility, now located on the third floor of the pavilion building, found a temporary home during the pavilion’s renovation in the portable ECC buildings beneath the footbridge that connect West and East Campus.

Those buildings are now classrooms.

The Sports Pavilion renovation was officially completed Sept. 3, nearly three months after its original proposed completion date.

The original contract for the renovation and addition for the Sports Pavilion was $6,315,000.

However, unforeseen problems during construction led to multiple postponements of the pavilion’s opening.

Twenty change orders were filed from the contractor A.J Diani Construction.

Overall, the project amounted to a total sum of $7,189,694-nearly $1 million over the original cost estimate.

According to Joseph Sullivan, Vice President of Business Services, one of the big obstacles during the construction was keeping the project in compliance with the state regulations.

To comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a concrete ramp near the Life Fitness Center entrance had to be constructed.

Sullivan said another additional cost resulted from the Department of State Architects’ requirement that there be a full-time inspector present at all times during construction.

Sullivan said also it cost $41,000 for the buildings to comply with state seismic regulations.

Aside from just having a new place to be active, Sullivan said that City College is up-to-date and “it’s nice to be able to say that.”

Baseball shortstop Ryan Morford said the new fitness center is great for teams.

“It’s 10 times better, [and] the fact that the whole team can be there builds team chemistry.”