How many people use the gym? 
We get around 1,000 people a day. Students account for about 75 percent. 

When is it most crowded?
January to about March is the busiest time of year. That’s when this place is absolutely rocking. Mondays and Wednesdays are busy 7 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.

Does anything unusual ever happen while people are working out?
Occasionally somebody will hit a personal record—maybe doing a bench press. That’s exhilarating, and their friends get excited. There’s not any crazy whooping and hollering, but excitement among the group of people lifting and supporting that person.

What were your goals in upgrading the gym two years ago?
Across the board I wanted to make the space feel more dynamic than just cluttered pieces of equipment and many pieces of one item used by only one person. I wanted people who come in here to be blown away.  

How much did the upgrade cost?
About $200,000. Weightlifting equipment is expensive. It adds up quickly. 

Do you do any personal training?
I teach an intro to weightlifting class specifically for students to get PE credits. Nearly every person in my last class had never stepped foot in here. Now they know complex movements in the proper form. They learn the ropes, and continue on. That’s what drives me, and that’s why I love being a manager of a facility like this—to take people who are intimidated and make them feel confident. 

What’s the best part of your job?
It’s a place where students can release all that energy, all the tension that they have in classes. You’re putting different types of stress into your body, but it’s a way to let loose and clear your head and feel good when you walk out and walk back in.