Reopening Layout Gallery Part Three

During the summer at Virginia Tech, professional staff worked as facilities staff during a pilot reopening. Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech.

View Part One of this series from the University of South Carolina and the University of Central Florida, and Part Two from the University of South Carolina Beaufort and Stephen F. Austin State University.

Part Three of this series features photos and reopening experiences from Mary Healey, the assistant director of Fitness and Wellness at Old Dominion University, as well as photos and a gym transformation video from Will Trent, the interim associate director of Admin Services at Virginia Tech.

Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University opened the Student Recreation Center on July 6. Healey explained everyone is required to wear a mask when entering, exiting and roaming the facility, but one of the challenges has been mask-wearing when roaming around the facility, in hallways and locker rooms, as well as encouraging not to share equipment.

“We are working on a reservation-based system where patrons must register for a 90-minute exercise time block,” said Healey. “We have 30 minutes of closure time in between each time block where our staff wipe down every piece of equipment handles, doorknobs, railings and locker rooms. These same policies apply for the pool and group fitness classes. With the rearrangement of equipment, we now have much more additional space which makes our patrons feel safe while they’re here.”

Lastly, Healey said reopening is a lot of educating, and with new policy changes come new challenges. “I think this will become the new normal for us all this year, so cracking down on policies early is key,” she said. “I am glad we opened this summer so the professional and student staff can see how this will work in the fall with much different numbers.”

Virginia Tech

Signage throughout the facility at Virginia Tech.

The court formally known as “The Single Gym” will now serve as an additional fitness space.

“We had planned to repurpose this space at McComas Hall, pre-COVID, to compensate for the closing and renovation of our second primary recreational center, War Memorial Hall,” said Trent. “It will also help us increase our occupancy for allowable types of exercise during the pandemic era.”