This semester, students who choose to work out at the Payne Center, The University of Southern Mississippi’s on-campus gym, can look forward to a slew of new renovations.

The Payne Center underwent renovation during the summer semester and took this opportunity to update much of their equipment. The new equipment featured includes all-new free weight equipment in the free weight zone and additional cardio equipment on the second floor concourse.

“I think it looks cleaner,” said Shannon Murphy, a sophomore nutrition and dietetics major. “It’s easier to find what I’m trying to use. It looks a lot better.”

Setting this equipment apart from the older machines is the personalization of the weights, with each weight carrying the campus recreational sports logo. In addition to the customization of the equipment, there are also new cycling machines on the second floor concourse that feature a visual display similar to that of a video game to promote and facilitate engagement in the workout process.

In addition to new equipment, the floor in the atrium was also replaced. According to the Payne Center staff, there will also be additional conversational furniture, such as couches, in the atrium in the coming weeks.

Many students appreciate the updates to the equipment. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction, not that it was bad before,” said Drew Davidson, a fine arts graduate student. “It makes me want to work out. It feels like an actual gym.”

Some even find that the new machines are far more helpful in the workout process than the older equipment. “I think the new weight center is a big improvement,” said Nicholas Lambes, a senior music education major. “The new machines offer more variables with how to do your workout.”

While the updates are much appreciated by students and faculty across campus, there are no plans as of yet to implement future renovation.