New Wellness Center Opens

Bethel University marked the completion of its new Wellness Center with a grand opening celebration on October 12. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by tours of the new space, with the center officially open for use at mid-day.

The celebration recognized the support of 170 donors and the contributions of all those who worked tirelessly to complete the project on an aggressive timeline that began with the official groundbreaking on November 17, 2014. “I’m really grateful for how people come together to make things happen at Bethel,” says Bethel University President Jay Barnes, “and that is certainly true of this project.”

The Wellness Center (WLC) features more than 11,000 square feet of workout space on two levels, and includes 37 pieces of cardio equipment, multiple pieces of weight training equipment, free weights, a large training turf, and a full fitness studio. An additional level houses three assessment labs and four collaborative research spaces to support Bethel’s fast-growing biokinetics program.

Further upgrades include locker room remodels for football, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s sports, and day use lockers. Open floor plans allow space for interaction and community, and Bethel University athletics branding enhances the look. Seven hundred new lockers were installed in the course of the project.

Beyond helping students reach their health goals, the WLC and locker room remodels reflect a larger community emphasis on well-being—physical, mental, social, and spiritual. “We pledge to develop our bodies, minds, and spirits,” says Rick Meyer, Bethel strength coach, “so that we may aggressively do God’s work as the body of Christ.”