Recent renovations to the Morren Fitness Center, Calvin’s non-athletic gym facility, have introduced new equipment, expanding space for the growing number of student athletes.
The renovations, which took place largely over winter break, were funded by more than $100,000 in private donations according to James Timmer, director of Calvin athletics. According to Timmer, the goal is to use underutilized space and provide more access to free weights for both athletes and the general student population.
Recent growth in the athletic program necessitated the expansion of gym facilities. “Our athletic courtroom has gone from about 500 student-athletes to 767 this year,” Timmer said, continuing, “and in order for them to be able to take our team, we said, okay, that space is underutilized.”
Updates include replacing all the bars and weights and increasing the number of squat racks from eight to 14. Timmer said the university hasn’t significantly updated the weight equipment in 16 years, although the cardio equipment was replaced two years ago.
“Some things they are [the donors] requested is more weight, new weight … and some rebranding in there. We achieved that,” Timmer said.
Despite these improvements, some students have expressed concern about the functionality of older devices that are still being used. Frequent gym user Arnold Guikema said that the current condition of the gym includes broken cable machines and equipment that pose a risk of injury, and when the administration prioritizes the new squat rack, the student population uses cable machines more often, which remain broken. “Every square inch of my body is in danger when I use a broken cable,” he said.
“I never thought to myself, gee, what this place needs is a better squat rack. That’s what it’s lacking,” Guikema said. “I don’t think that squat racks are where students feel the most impact from gym equipment … cable machines are where … the student population in general has difficulty.”
previous requests for upgrades
The gym continues to be the focus of student attention, highlighted by projects and advocacy from the Student Senate over the past two years. According to the previous bell reported, the 2024-2025 Student Senate is raising $5,000 toward renovations to the Morren Fitness Center’s weight room. The 2025-2026 Student Senate is looking at a more targeted project to replace the attachment for the cable machine, as they were told to fix the machine would be too expensive, according to Guikema.
Timmer maintained that the latest renovations are intended to fulfill the ideas advocated for the Student Senate, including more new weights.
Closed to non-athletes
The athletic department’s strategy involves a “trade-off” in which parts of the Morren Fitness Center are closed to accommodate athletic teams. Timmer clarified that during this period, similar equipment remains in other parts of the facility.
However, this separation has created a sense of exclusion for some non-athletic students. Guikema likened the experience of walking into the basement of the Spoelhof Fieldhouse and seeing the limited equipment in the athletes’ gym; even now the student gym, with improved equipment, is being used by athletes.
Lola Davies, a freshman track athlete, said a separate space for athletes is beneficial because the athletic gym does not have the capacity to fit all sports teams at once.
“Being a student athlete here is a commitment and an expense … so giving us a little bit of an advantage in space … has been really beneficial,” Davies said.
Going forward, according to Timmer, Athletics has indicated further plans for the Morren Fitness Center, including painting the space in the university’s maroon and gold colors and installing turf for dynamic training.
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