SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer officially opened SMU’s new three-storey Gymnasium and Fitness Centre on 23 September 2016, bursting balloons and scattering confetti at the entrance with pedal power. He was challenged along with his team mates to spin their fitness bikes to 100 rpm and maintain that speed for a minute. Prof De Meyer swiftly accelerated to 120 rpm while team mates Mr Sundaravadivelan Selvam, Director of Campus Development, Mr Kenneth Tan, Director of Student Life and Shannon Koh Zhikai, President of SMU Sports Union struggled to catch up. The barrage blocking the entrance had been designed so that their combined efforts triggered the explosion, which onlookers cheered and applauded.

Making light work of heavy medicine balls were Prof Pang Yang Hoong, Vice Provost (Undergraduate Matters and Student Development) (2^nd from left); Mr Eric Song, Head, Sports and Adventure, Office of Student Life (2^nd from right); Mr Kenneth Tan, Director, Student Life (left); and Mr Sundar Selvam, Director, Campus Development (right).

Shannon then accompanied Prof De Meyer on a tour of the brand-new facilities, accompanied by guests including members of the faculty and staff of SMU, representatives from SMU’s partners in building and equipping the new gym, students and friends of SMU. Prof De Meyer watched demonstrations of how to use various pieces of equipment and energetically tried out at least a dozen of the various state-of-the-art exercise machines.

Prof De Meyer flexing his Presidential muscles.

Prof De Meyer joking with members of SMU Fencing Club in the new Fitness Studio.

The tour finished with a demonstration by the SMU Fencing Club in the basement-level Fitness Studio, before some welcome refreshment and a dinner reception at the Concourse.

(Left to right) Mr Alan Goh, Vice President, Corporate Communications and Marketing; Prof Ong Siow Heng, Dean of Students; and Mr Eric Song, Head, Sports and Adventure, Office of Student Life, unwind at the reception.

Compared to the former SMU Gym, the area provided by the new facilities is 50 per cent bigger (overall floor area is now 1,010 sqm). The new facility, comprising two fitness studios and one gymnasium, spans three levels and is disability-friendly. The expanded floor area has allowed the SMU Office of Student Life to introduce new and a larger range of fitness and training equipment to encourage a greater diversity of students, alumni, and members of the faculty and staff to use the Centre. The specialised equipment will also strengthen SMU’s training of the University’s high-performance athletes. Moreover, once the redevelopment of Campus Green is complete, the glass façade of the gymnasium on the top level will offer users a view of the lush greenery and vibrant activities outside.

Various training zones in the well-equipped new three-story SMU Gym.

Main photo: SMU President Prof Arnoud to De Meyer (2^nd from right) with (left to right on bikes) President, SMU Sports Union Shannon Koh Zhikai; Director, Campus Development, Mr Sundaravadivelan Selvam; and Director, Student Life, Mr Kenneth Tan, at the opening of the new SMU Gymnasium and Fitness Centre.