Trojan Fitness
& Wellness
Center
Student-led and student-funded, the Trojan Fitness and Wellness Center makes a positive impact by promoting healthy life-long habits, furthering advancing robust recreation and wellness program, and improving the quality of life for all campus constituents.
Student-led and student-funded, the Trojan Fitness and Wellness Center makes a positive impact by promoting healthy life-long habits, furthering advancing robust recreation and wellness program and improving the quality of life for all campus constituents. Located on the NW corner of Johnny Long and George Wallace Drives the Trojan Fitness Center is the first landmark to welcome everyone to campus. The inviting open rotunda on the northeast side offers visibility into all three levels of the facility, while the building exterior optimizes an attractive combination of brick, stone, and glass, a palette that currently gives strong architectural character to the Troy Campus.
Designed in collaboration with Seay, Seay & Litchfield, PC.
Designed to be bright, open, and airy, the Wellness Center provides high visibility of active spaces that invite and foster healthy living for a healthy community.
The grand stair and other multi-story spaces are striking visual elements in this highly efficient layout design, and the emotional energy of the building is evident inside and outside, making it come alive to both the users and the passersby. The building is filled with many active spaces and is intentionally transparent. Inside, it is bright, open, and airy. The grand stair and many multi-story spaces are striking visual elements of this highly efficient layout. The interior design embodies the university by utilizing the Troy cardinal color on all sides of the track, a main feature connecting spaces that can be seen from almost every vantage point, and which is further enhanced by the unique track design. The integration of rich walnut wood further enhances the connection to nature and the well-being of the campus.Â
Turnstiles were implemented to keep a record of who enters the facility and are a key security feature that benefits staff and students. Key fob hardware was used in the facility, to be in alignment with the remainder of Troy University. Monitors are used in group exercise spaces for virtual instruction. Additionally, window shades open and close automatically based on the solar position and influence on the facility. Room lighting technology also reacts to the environment by picking up sound, and in turn, changing the light color. The interior design embodies the University by utilizing the Troy cardinal color on all sides of the track, a main feature connecting spaces that can be seen from almost every vantage point. This bold move is further enhanced by the unique track design, which includes sloping for a more active and engaging experience. This campus is rooted in classic architecture and by pulling the exterior red brick into the building there is not only a connection to the exterior, but also to the entire campus. The integration of rich walnut wood further enhances the connection to nature and promotes well-being. The creation of subtle reveals and recesses creates layers revealing dark colors and bold patterns while adding excitement within a buzzing space.
This was born of students, paid for by students and will serve students. It was a student-driven project more than any other project I can remember. We're so grateful that this has culminated in what I think will be one of the great fitness centers in Alabama. It's a credit to the campus, and it gives us a new face for the campus.
Experiential graphics play a large role in the interior design of the facility.
Flags of the more than 70 countries represented in the student population are proudly displayed. Whimsical drawings of people in action appear throughout the building, embodying the University's motto, "Educate the mind to think, the heart to feel, and the body to act." Photographs across the west wall depict a Troy student's journey from day one through graduation and the opportunities of professional life. Custom-designed signage includes illustrations linked to the functions of different areas, making them immediately recognizable. Like other key parts of this campus, the strong colors, warm materials, and rich international history are foundational to the final design solution for this facility.
The building was a student-led initiative and was recommended by the Student Government Association, which also recommended it be paid for through a student recreation fee of $100 per semester ($50 summer). The fee was implemented in 2016, in advance of construction.