SRC says North Hill gym users satisfied, but some students say it’s always crowded

By Sean Loo

The new North Hill gym opened on Jan 3, replacing SRC gyms 1 and 2, to mixed responses from the student body. PHOTO: VALERIE LAY

NTU students who want to head to an on-campus gym for a workout will soon only have one viable option — the new North Hill gym.

The new gym, which opened on 3 Jan, replaced the two gyms located at the Sports and Recreation Centre (SRC). SRC Gym 1 closed on Jan 9, and Gym 2 will be closed at a yet-to-be-announced later date.

In an email to the Nanyang Chronicle, Tan Qingyu, a final-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, expressed his concerns about the closure of the SRC gyms.

“The North Hill gym alone is far from enough to be able to accommodate the entire fitness crowds,” he wrote.

Currently, the North Hill gym is the only gym that is open to all students and staff members. The other gyms located at the National Institute of Education, Campus Clubhouse and selected residential halls have limited access.

Trial period

According to the SRC’s website, the North Hill Gym is currently open for free trial to all NTU students, staff and faculty.

However, starting from a later date (tentatively 1 April), the gym will only be open to paid members (staff, faculty, and part-time students). Registered full-time students who are sports-fee payees will also be allowed entry without additional charges.

Tan also described the location of the new gym as “just not as good” compared to the SRC.

The new gym is located in the new North Hill residential halls cluster, just opposite Halls of Residence 10 and 11.

Tan was also dissatisfied with the training equipment available.

“Our gym equipment and training platforms are in dire need for improvement,” he added.

The new gym does not have a power rack and has only a single barbell available for users. In contrast, the SRC Gym 1 had a power rack and three barbells.

Community gym

According to Mr Chia Chin Yeh, Senior Assistant Manager at the SRC, the North Hill gym will not be providing a free weight power rack (a weight training equipment without the movement restrictions) as it is meant to be a community gym catered towards less-experienced recreational users.

“We will continue to monitor the necessity for the provision of free weight power rack for the NTU community; but in the meantime, we encourage experienced gym users to go to commercial gyms for their specific requirements and equipment,” said Mr Chia in an email response to the Chronicle.

Despite the lack of a free weight power rack, Mr Chia pointed out that the majority of users had a positive view of the new gym.

For instance, he cited a survey carried out by the SRC that showed 76 per cent of the users felt that the range of strength and conditioning equipment met their needs.

He added that the new gym carries the new Queenax training system — a suspended (using a system of ropes and webbing) bodyweight training system.

The same survey also showed that 92 per cent of the respondents were satisfied with the North Hill gym overall.

Mr Chia added that the closure of the SRC gyms was a step to provide better service for users.
“We have consolidated the two unmanned gyms to a fully manned gym that is open seven days a week, including public holidays,” he said.

One satisfied user is first-year Renaissance Engineering Programme student, Kok Hui Yuan.
“I find the machines here quite sufficient for my work out. I do weight training; there are barbells, weights, and machines,” said the 21-year-old, who previously frequented the old SRC gyms.

Increased use

According to Mr Chia, an average of 432 users utilise the new gym daily, a marked increase compared to the SRC gyms, which saw a combined average of 162 users.

But some users like Huang Zhe, 26, found it more difficult to get a proper workout due to the crowd.

The first-year graduate student from the School of Computer Science and Engineering told the Chronicle that it has become difficult to find a machine to use, especially during the evening peak period on weekdays, 5pm — 7pm.

Always crowded

Henry Loh, who stays at Binjal Hall (Hall 19) that is part of the North Hill cluster, also told the Chronicle that the new gym tends to be “always crowded”.

“I tried using the gym last week from 3pm — 4pm. While it is not exactly the peak period, I still have to queue for the use of certain equipment,” said the final-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The 25-year-old hopes that the North Hill gym will soon be made exclusive to residents upon the completion of the new SRC building. He said: “Ultimately the gym here should be for the residents, given that the North Hill cluster have one of the higher rents among NTU halls.”

While there is another gym planned for the upcoming SRC building, it will only be opened to members of NTU sports teams.