Morgan State University’s Edward P. Hurt Gymnasium is nearly ready to reopen after being closed for renovations since August 2021.
It has been nearly two years since the gym’s initial closure, leaving most students who aren’t athletes with no place to workout and exercise. The building’s renovations are nearly complete and will soon be a space for academics, leisure and athletics.
Though renovations were the main reason the gym was closed, the COVID-19 pandemic heavily contributed. Before the 2020 pandemic, Hurt gym’s pool was closed in July 2019 after the discovery of a large leak.
Kim McCalla, Morgan’s associate vice president of facilities, design and construction management said, “Renovations started out by upgrading the mechanical systems and adding air conditioning to the building. We saw so much work that was happening and we needed to bring the building up to code, so we figured we might as well give the place a makeover to make it more inviting.”
The two story gymnasium has received upgrades on both floors, with the first floor featuring all new classrooms, meeting rooms, a fully renovated basketball court and a dance studio.
The gym’s new-and-improved basketball court comes equipped with all new backboards, scoreboards, air conditioning and floors. The refurbished dance studio, according to McCalla, has “new everything.”
But the bulk of the facility’s renovations are on the second floor, which is equipped with new privacy showers, electronic lockers for the general public (which will require BearCards for use), communal areas and an all new weight room.
The second floor’s new locker rooms are nearly complete and ready for occupation by Morgan’s wrestling, track and field, and acrobatics and tumbling teams. Their lockers will remain separate from those of the general public.
The weight room has seen full renovations – it now has a whole new row of squat racks, treadmills and adjustable dumbbells.
Part of the reason the gym was closed was the pool, which is now back online and will soon be open to the campus community. A new filtration system has been installed.
Students that arrived at Morgan after the fall 2021 semester have never been inside the gymnasium and likely have no idea what to expect, though they’ve been eager to have a recreational gym on campus.
“I was super disappointed when I got [to Morgan] and they said it was closed,” said Isaiah Simpson, freshman computer science major. “I’ve had to really just stick to home workouts…it’s been a lot more difficult than if I just had a spot on campus [to work out in].”
Sophomore business administration major and Christian Gatlin had been looking to start a fitness organization on campus, but with the previous lack of an on-campus gym, his plans were put on hold.
“I do hear that people want the gym open because some people can’t afford a monthly membership and don’t have any other alternative,” he said, “As for my organization, I want to educate students on the importance of fitness, how to work out properly, and to create a healthy routine for all students.”
Morgan alum James Berry, who graduated from the university in 2011, says the gym was in “pretty bad shape,” and was in need of renovations. During his time at Morgan, he and his friends would use the gym to exercise and hang out.
“One of the coolest things about Hurt gym is what it represents and it shows progress the school has made. I’m glad to see it’s reopening and I hope that it impacts a lot of students’ lives.”
As of this article’s publication, there is no set date for the opening of Hurt Gymnasium, though it was originally thought to be opened before the end of the spring semester.
“I know it’s been frustrating and everybody is frustrated.” McCalla said, “I’m trying desperately to get this done before everyone leaves. But I’m not making any promises.”
