Eye on Health: MSU Wellness Center - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Eye on Health: MSU Wellness Center

When students arrive back at Minot State University for classes this week, they will have access to a new multi-million dollar wellness center to help them stay healthy.
Carla Burbidge tells us a about it, in this week's Eye on Health.  

The MSU Wellness Center, a project that has been a dream for quite a few years -  and here it is.  It's beautiful.  Complete with everything a health center needs: Cardiovascular equipment, weight equipment, a fitness room for classes, a climbing wall, two courts for intramural games, a basketball court and an all- purpose court, and of course locker rooms. The design is very open and modern.
(Dick Jenkins,Vice President of Student Affairs) "It is an important part of a student's life, it is something we wanted to do."
The wellness center is attached to the MSU Dome, and a new skywalk connects the wellness center to Swain Hall across the street, making it easy for fitness and athletic training students taking classes in Swain to scoot over to the wellness center.  In a few months, the street in front of the dome will open  to vehicle traffic.  One of the  best features at the wellness center, the windows that look out over the football field.  
(Paul Brekke, Wellness Center Director) "A university of this size, it's very nice, it doesn't take a back seat to anyone."
The wellness center is strictly for student use.  It is primarily being paid for through student fees.
What a great way to get younger people interested in a healthy lifestyle.  
It's also a great showcase for students who are considering MSU as their higher education choice.  
(Paul Brekke, Wellness Center Director) "It is something most university's have, I think it will help recruit students."
The MSU Wellness Center is the first building at MSU that is geo-thermal.  
That means energy is being captured from underground, for the heating and cooling of the building.  
MSU is eventually converting other buildings to geo-thermal as well.  
So from the cutting edge technology in the basement, to the top notch design thru-out the building, the MSU wellness center is a place to see, and of course a place to get a good work-out.   
A ribbon cutting is planned this week as another school year begins.  
For Eye on Health I'm Carla Burbidge.