Nelson Fitness Center upgrades its cardio equipment, building on green energy initiatives

Students who hoped to squeeze in a quick workout at the Nelson Fitness Center on Nov. 7 and 8 may have found their exercise options limited. Last week, the Nelson announced partial closures while they upgraded the gym’s cardio equipment. 

These upgrades are just some of the changes Brown hopes to make to its recreation centers this year. In addition to incorporating the new equipment, the Athletics Department is aiming to create open gym hours in the Keeney gym and build a new indoor turf area this winter, Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun ’92 P’26 P’26 told The Herald.  

Ray Grant, the senior associate director of athletics and recreation, said that the Nelson’s cardio equipment is loaned on a three-year lease, which allows them to replace the old equipment with newer models every few years. This lease system is cost-effective, Grant added.

The Nelson utilizes this three-year cycle to continually reevaluate the number of equipment pieces offered and meet fitness industry trends. Based on student feedback, the gym also determines what machines will best meet the needs of the Brown community.

“It has been incredibly beneficial for the Nelson Fitness Center to incorporate student” input, Grant said, adding that since “90 to 92% of the gym’s staff are students, it is easier to gather information catering to students’ interests.”

In spring 2024, the Nelson sent out a survey to collect student feedback on and suggestions for possible improvements to Brown’s workout facilities. Based on the survey results, the Nelson added nine new pieces of strength training equipment, more treadmills and decreased the number of ellipticals. The center also moved some of its stair climbers and other equipment to the gym in Keeney Quadrangle to bolster student accessibility. 

Student feedback also gave rise to the Nelson’s green cardio initiative, which will be expanded later this year.

In fall 2023, Elina Pipa ’25 proposed and organized a trial run at the Nelson that added several pieces of workout equipment from SportsArt, a sustainable fitness equipment company. These cardio machines convert human activity into electricity.

Before the start of the spring semester, the Nelson will add an additional 17 energy-saving pieces of equipment from SportsArt. 

Shifting to energy-saving equipment does not impact students’ exercise routine since it is a “direct replacement of what students are already used to and like,” Pipa explained. But the new equipment makes it easier to create a “positive environmental impact through a simple act of working out.” 

When using these sustainable machines, students should shift their exercise mindsets and strive to hit electricity production goals instead of following traditional time and distance metrics, Pipa said.