Old Gym
| Old Gym | |
|---|---|
Old Gym in 1922
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Romanesque revival |
| Location | Washington, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 40°10′16″N 80°14′29.9″W / 40.17111°N 80.241639°W |
| Current tenants | Swanson Wellness Center |
| Construction started | 1892 |
| Completed | 1893 |
| Renovated | 1926, 2002 |
| Cost | $40,000 |
| Owner | Washington & Jefferson College |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Arthur Bates Jennings |
The Old Gym is an historic building at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. It currently houses a modern exercise facility featuring cardiovascular, resistance, and strength training equipment. The building also features a three-lane indoor track suspended above the main floor.
Prior to the construction of the Old Gym, students exercised and engaged in athletics under the grandstands at College Field. The exterior is Cleveland sandstone. In the early years, the interior space was used for basketball and as an auditorium. The basement once held a bowling alley and a swimming pool. Following renovations in 1927, where the interior was re-faced with brick and the swimming pool was expanded, the building was supposed to have been turned into a memorial hall for President James D. Moffat, but those plans never materialized. By 1938, the building was unable to host any intercollegiate athletic events, and during World War II, it was used as the Army Administration School. After the construction of the Henry Memorial Center, the building no longer housed any athletic events. Instead, the Old Gym was used for student activities and maintenance. In 2002, the Old Gym was renovated to make room for the Swanson Wellness Center.
The Old Gym is home to the Swanson Wellness Center, a modern exercise facility serving the entire College community. The main floor area has a variety of cardiovascular training equipment, including 10 treadmills, 5 exercise bikes, and 5 elliptical running machines. The strength training equipment consists of free weight machines, a weight rack, and 5 squat racks. The facility also has various resistance machines. The Old Gym also has a three-lane indoor track suspended above the main floor.
According to campus folklore, the (now filled-in) swimming pool in the basement was first constructed by students who simply dug a hole in the basement to create a "mud hole," which was then cemented.
Plans for the Old Gym were spearheaded by President James D. Moffat, who solicited funds from alumni and friends of the college. Construction ran through 1892 before being completed in 1893 with a final cost of $40,000. The church-like exterior is made of Cleveland sandstone from the Amherst quarry near Cleveland, Ohio. Cement and hard pine were also used. The finished building measures 110 feet (34 m) by 65 feet (20 m) and 2 stories high.
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