A look inside the renovated weight room at Whitaker Gym

Renovations are complete on the weight room at Winston-Salem State University’s Whitaker Gym.

Over the summer, new equipment was installed in the weight room.

“Having the Whitaker Gym weight room available for classes again is a huge benefit for our students,” said Dr. Cynthia Williams Brown, chair and associate professor of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Sports Studies. “The space really lends itself to teaching; it’s spacious for students to watch teacher demonstrations of skills and lifts.”

The equipment – customized with WSSU’s new Ram head logo – includes six benches and platforms as well as free weights. It also includes strength resistance bands and other accessories that weren’t available before.

This semester, more than 200 WSSU students are using the space in classes. Eight sections of Weight Training (PED 1111) are being taught in the weight room. In addition, the renovated room also is serving as a lab space for physical education and exercise physiology students, helping them learn about strength training and rehabilitation, and strength and conditioning, Williams Brown said.

Williams Brown said the weight room and its central location on campus also will help faculty develop additional physical education courses. Institutional funds paid for the renovation, which cost about $36,500. 

Prior to the renovations, most courses were taught in the C.E. Thompson Student Services Center Fitness Room and the Bowman Gray Stadium Field House.