Major enhancements to the Ron Schipper Fitness Center are complete and Central College athletes in town for the summer are taking advantage. A $350,000 donor-funded investment allowed for a facility redesign, with new equipment, lighting and other infrastructure improvements.

“We are so grateful to all of the Central alumni, parents and friends who continue making upgrades like this possible,” said athletics director Eric Van Kley. “We’re committed to providing life-changing opportunities for Central students and they’re a big part of that.”

The most noticeable change is the new one-inch rubber flooring that replaced the original surface, which was a combination of 1/4-inch Mondo flooring and carpet. New lifting platforms are recessed instead of raised, allowing space for 13 lifting racks in the same space as 11 of the old platforms.

New dumbbells and racks, squat racks, benches and bars were also installed in the 7,200-square foot strength and conditioning facility. The new barbells and plates are rubber instead of the traditional metal, providing increased durability and eliminating the need to frequently tighten plates.

The facility is one of the most heavily used on campus and renovation work started in March. It’s the most significant facility redesign since it opened in 1998.