UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Campus Recreation reopened the Intramural (IM) Building on the University Park campus to students on Friday, Sept. 25. All building visitors will be required to wear masks, practice social distancing, and follow enhanced health, safety and scheduling procedures.
Because the need to maintain physical distance has created dramatically reduced building capacities, the IM Building will only be open to students at this time with weekday hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The IM Building also will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Masks will be mandated at all times while inside the IM Building for the duration of each student’s stay, and social distancing of six feet in common areas is required. In addition, all students will be required to reserve their workout times before visiting the IM Building.
“We are excited to be opening the IM Building and have been working over the last several months on a phased approach to make our opening as smooth as possible and to support the health and safety of our students,” said Laura Hall, senior director of Campus Recreation. “Our staff has created workout spaces that support appropriate distancing for exercise, and there are several repurposed areas within the IM Building.”
While the IM Building is currently only open to students, the phased approach to re-opening this facility will eventually change to include community members when health and safety guidelines related to COVID-19 indicate it is feasible. In addition, Hepper Fitness Center adjacent to Rec Hall and the White Building fitness area remain closed at this time.
Because all students are required to reserve their workout times before visiting the facility, an online registration system has been implemented to help staff fully comply with new capacity limits and distancing expectations for all open areas. Availability will be on a first-come, first-served basis and can be completed through the Campus Rec registration web portal by clicking on the orange “Reserve Your Workout” icon. Registration for each activity session is “live” 48 hours before the session start time, and individuals can only schedule one session per day. Strict exit times will be enforced so that the staff is able to clean and reset the facility before the next group of members arrive.
To comply with COVID-19 mitigation efforts, exercise equipment has been spaced 10-12 feet apart, while several individual workout areas have been created to further maintain proper distancing. Visitors are asked to wipe off equipment before and after each use and to wash their hands frequently. Those working out should bring their own towel and water bottle if those items are needed during a workout.
"We have regretted that circumstances prevented us from opening the IM Building earlier in the semester, and we are grateful for our students' patience. Their physical and mental health are always important to us," said Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs. "This reopening and further expansion of such opportunities will be sustainable only if all students follow the public health guidelines established across campus and in our community. Let's encourage one another to do the right thing."
The most current and up-to-date information for Campus Recreation, its facilities, and the programs offered for students and members can be found on the Campus Recreation website. Additional updates and changes to these operational hours and procedures will be communicated via the Student Affairs website.
For more information about the University’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and Back to State plans, visit virusinfo.psu.edu.