As it continues to undergo renovation, IMPE isn’t the only local fitness facility experiencing changes.

The Mettler Center notified its members in a letter last week that its campus location, 616 E. Green St. in Champaign, will no longer serve as a fitness facility and plans to focus solely on physical therapy beginning next semester.

Miles Mettler, general manager of the Mettler Center, said the change comes after re-evaluating the facility’s business model and anticipating IMPE’s scheduled completion in spring 2008. Along with a climbing wall, additional basketball courts and updated equipment, IMPE’s 14 treadmills and 14 elliptical machines will increase to 70 each.

After a drop in membership with CRCE’s re-opening in March 2005, Mettler is preparing for the effects of another improved facility.

“Overall, I’d say our fitness membership numbers were down by 25 to 30 percent,” he said of the trend he has noticed since CRCE’s completion. “We anticipate there will be somewhat of a decline, so that’s what we’re using as we’re forecasting ahead to when IMPE is completed.”

Associate Director of Campus Recreation Gary Miller said that meeting rooms, multi-purpose rooms and an instructional kitchen will draw students to IMPE who normally don’t use Campus Recreation facilities.

“Right now, our statistics show that we serve about 88 percent of the student body each semester,” Miller said. “We want to provide opportunities for segments of the student population that may not be served by us.”

Nikki DiGioia, junior in Education, is a Mettler member and is disappointed that she will no longer to be able to work out at the Green Street location.

“The number one reason I go to Mettler is convenience,” she said. “I hate the Campus Rec facilities because you have to sign up for a machine, and there’s no room to do anything.”

Brad Feinsmith, owner of Cardinal Fitness at 301 Lincoln Square Village in Urbana and 2414 Galen Dr. in Champaign, said he hears similar complaints from his student members.

“They have been complaining that CRCE is overcrowded,” he said. “I have a lot of students telling me stories that they have to go to CRCE in the morning to sign up for a machine and go back later to use it.”

Kristin Duitsman, Campus Recreation assistant director of member services, said facilities see between 4,000 and 5,000 users on an average day. She hopes the number will increase to between 8,000 and 10,000 when IMPE is renovated, with Campus Recreation attracting more faculty, staff and family members.

Current, full-time University students can access Campus Recreation facilities provided they have paid the University Service Fee. University affiliates, including faculty, staff and retirees, along with their spouses and partners, can purchase memberships at a special rate. Current Alumni Association members can also purchase memberships. In addition, University affiliates and full-time students may sponsor one adult with no University affiliation for an associate membership at the specified rate.

Kindal Wernz, sophomore in LAS, said she works out at CRCE regularly and appreciates that student fees allow her to use campus facilities .

“I like the atmosphere,” she said. “I generally can find people I know, and I like working out with people I know.”

Duitsman said Campus Recreation experienced a reduction in membership following the Jan. 30 closing of IMPE’s main facilities, though the east wing remained open. However, overall there was a membership increase from the year before. During the spring prior to IMPE’s reduction in facilities, Campus Recreation had 1,323 non-student members. But the spring after, the number had increased to 1,734. Duitsman attributed the increase to the completion of CRCE and the introduction of a payroll-deduction option for faculty and staff memberships.

“We saw a slight reduction in membership due to patrons who were swimmers and had reduced options,” she said. “When IMPE reopens, I feel we’ll get those swimmers back because the pools are the best and biggest in the area.”

Gold’s Gym owner Matt Welsh said his facility, located at 1914 Round Barn Rd. in Champaign, will try to keep up with Campus Recreation by updating equipment and facilities while increasing student-targeted advertising.

“A lot of people come here because the stuff on campus is nice, but it’s crowded,” he said. “I think we’ll stop getting as many new members and new people coming in (when IMPE is finished). I’m definitely not looking forward to that.”

Deb Lay, general manager of The Refinery, 2302 W. John St. in Champaign, said she was pleasantly surprised by the student response she received after opening in 2004.

“We didn’t realize this would be attractive to students,” she said. “We didn’t use to market to students, but we do now. I think it reminds them of the gyms they have at home, and it’s industrial, edgy and pretty modern.”

Miller said when finished, IMPE will provide unique services that are not offered outside of the academic environment of the University.

“I think some people choose to go to a private facility for various reasons,” he said. “But we believe we provide all those opportunities for them, and they have already paid the student fee to access it.”

Although it is moving its fitness facilities off campus, The Mettler Center is expanding into a new market. The Mettler Athletic Facility, set to open as early as January, will focus on sport-specific performance-enhancement training. With 40 yards of artificial turf, a three-lane sprint track and sport-specific areas, along with a fitness area and physical therapy, Mettler said the new facility will target athletes ranging from junior high school students to adults.

Duitsman said IMPE does not try to compete with Mettler and that its main goal is to serve the University community and the people who use its facilities.