Instead of a single room, the new center now comprises four rooms. The original space now houses new cardio equipment and locker rooms, while a second space—built across from the original one—houses free weights and weightlifting machines. New windows looking onto the plaza were also added to both rooms, dramatically increasing the center’s visibility and access to natural light.

For cardio workouts, there are five treadmills, 10 elliptical bicycles that offer both recumbent and upright seating and large video screens and interactive programming, two rowing machines, and a stair climber.

For core workouts, there are six machines—a glute coaster, back extension, abs bench x3, rotary torso, vertical crunch, and the tire flip 180, which simulates the experience of lifting half a tractor tire. There are also free weights, medicine balls, and a boxing bag.

The weight room features free weights and 10 machines that can be used for multiple exercises. These include an FTS glide-functional training machine, a pulldown/row machine, pec fly/dec, leg curl/extension, a leg press, a bicep/tricep machine, an inner/outer thigh machine, a shoulder press, and a chest press.

The locker rooms were also completely rebuilt, with lockers constructed of heavy plastic instead of metal, and showers and stalls equipped with doors with airplane bathroom-style locks. Lockers are available to rent for all members of the Fordham community for $50 per semester, or $75 for the year. Those interested should contact the office of residential life at Lincoln Center at (212) 636-7100 or [email protected].

Two new studio rooms were also created, increasing the footprint of the center from 3,700 to 6,400 square feet. Those spaces were outfitted with specially designed floors and equipment that will appeal to those interested in barre, movement, yoga, and Pilates.

New Activities in New Spaces

Jenifer Campbell, Ed.D., dean of students at Lincoln Center, said that the spaces will allow for both an expansion of current programming, such as Ignatian yoga sponsored by the Department of Mission and Ministry, and new offerings that will be announced in the coming weeks.

“It gives students an opportunity to work out some of the frustrations and stress that they may have related to class and everyday life situations,” she said.

“It helps promote some of those healthier activities that they ought to be engaged in, and it’s convenient because they don’t have to go outside of the University to have that opportunity to exercise,” she said.

The University was able to expand into the space because Health Services and the COVID testing center, which previously occupied the area, were relocated to 140 W. 62 Street and the Lowenstein South Lounge, respectively. It opened to the University community on Jan. 17.

After soliciting feedback from students last year, Campbell turned to Joseph Scaltro, director of engineering services at Lincoln Center, and Sarah Bickford, administrator of fitness and recreation, to design the new center. Bickford helped design the Ram Fit Center that opened in the Joseph M. McShane, S.J., campus center last spring, so she had a good idea of how a similar facility at Lincoln Center should look.

Bickford said her goal was to make the space as intuitive and welcoming as possible. Some of that is accomplished by replacing bulky equipment with smaller, sleeker models with ample signage and QR codes that direct users to instructional videos.

It’s also achieved by thoughtful consideration of layout and design touches like window screens that, when installed, will both shield exercisers from the sun glare and keep the facility from feeling like a fishbowl, with everyone on display.

“There are lots of things that come into play when you’re laying things out. It’s not about just putting machines down,” Bickford said.

“There are lots of other things, like the flooring and the lighting. What can people see? What are the privacy issues?”

Working to design the fitness center at Rose Hill made her realize that for students, the COVID pandemic had spurred them to rethink the purpose of a gym. It’s no longer just the place to bulk up and get fit.

“There are so many reasons why people come to the gym, and a big piece of that is mental health. That doesn’t mean you have to come for hours at a time—you could come in and just do a 20-minute workout. So, the less intimidating it is and the easier it is to come in, the better,” she said.

The center will be open from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the weekends. It will be closed for cleaning and restocking daily from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Jenifer Campbell, director of residential life for Lincoln Center, said her biggest piece of advice is to negotiate the boundaries in advance and set clear expectations.

For example, curfew conversations tend to be an area that causes disagreements in families. While students shouldn’t expect to come home at 5 every morning during break, parents should also recognize that their student has been living independently for the past few months.

The key is that both sides be willing to give a little, Campbell said.

“It’s all about laying out the ground rules and negotiating expectations as you would anything as a family,” Campbell said.

“You raised them to explore. This is part of that exploration, that they’re not going to be underfoot all the time.”

Campbell said in her experience, “the best approach is the direct approach,” and she counsels students to speak directly to their parents about any schedule constraints or expectations.

Parents can follow suit by clearly communicating priority events, such as family holiday celebrations, and asking their students what other items they have on their agenda during the break.

For parents who are feeling a bit disappointed that their children are making lots of plans away from family, Kimberly Russell, director of residential life for Rose Hill, reminds parents that it’s a long break.

“Don’t fret if they decide to catch up more with friends than with family at first. They are home for several weeks for winter break,” Russell said.

Campbell adds that it’s good opportunity for parents to remember that their children are simply growing up. “They are basically doing exactly what you want them to do in being away from the nest and becoming young, independent adults,” she said.

Russell suggested making the most of the time parents have with students over break by being proactively interested in their new life at Fordham. Students have gone through significant changes since you’ve last spent time with them. Taking the initiative to show interest in their new life can make all the difference.

“Use this as a time to reconnect, hear about their new friends, talk about their classes, and discuss their involvement in the community. They have a lot of new things to share with you and it’s important to ask them to share their insight,” Russell said.

Also important to remember: Your students are recovering from a busy season of final exams. Let them sleep in!

by Jennifer Spencer