The quest for student physical fitness at Canisius College is moving from the busy Koessler Center to a campus building now with foosball, video games and bubble hockey.
Students have long complained the facilities in the Koessler Center aren't sufficient for both students and the college's sports teams.
The new facilities in Palisano Pavilion are part of a new master plan for the campus that goes to the Board of Trustees next month.
College President John Hurley said the cost of the new fitness center will be under $1 million. Students were interested enough that the Undergraduate Student Association pledged $50,000 toward the costs.
In a message to the college newspaper, The Griffin, Hurley said a number of sites were considered, but Palisano was picked because it is centrally located. The Board of Trustees will be asked to approve a final plan from Cannon Design at the same May meeting as the master plan and it should be open for use next academic year.
Separate student athletic facilities are not uncommon on today's campuses. Once the fitness center is open, students will be sweating on an array of cardio machines like treadmills, elipticals, stationary bikes and weight-lifting systems. There will be changing rooms and showers.
