To start the new school year, Union Adventist University officially opened a renovated and expanded wellness center, the newly named AdventHealth Complex.

It’s a grand opening 44 years in the making. Ever since Union health center first opened, the campus master plan has called for a second phase. Now, with a new name and a major expansion, the promises of 1980 have finally become a reality for the students of 2024.

The 40,000-square-foot addition gives Union Adventist University a second gymnasium, a turf field, an indoor track, and more room for cardio and weight training. The project also renovated the existing pool and Nursing Program in 2023, replacing the roof of the original building and increasing accessibility for wheelchair users. The project was made possible by gifts from 517 community partners and alumni to date. The total raised will be announced at the ribbon cutting.

Formerly known as Larson Lifestyle Center, the university’s fitness center has been renamed the Reiner Wellness Center in honor of the leadership of Rich and Lynnet Reiner, alumni from the classes of 1969 and 1970 respectively. The entire building, including the Nursing Program’s classrooms and offices on the second floor, is named the AdventHealth Complex in recognition of gifts made by the nationwide health care system and the many alumni donors who serve as executives and health care providers within the organization.

Continuing the tradition of the Larson Lifestyle Center, the Reiner Wellness Center offers memberships to the community and provides swimming lessons to more children in Lincoln than any other single facility.

The Thunderdome, Union’s old gymnasium built in 1942, will continue to be the home of the Warriors varsity volleyball and basketball teams this fall. A usage audit conducted during the planning stages of the new facility found the gymnasium is booked on average 11 hours out of every school day for varsity and intramural sports, classes, and other organized activities leaving little room for casual recreation. Students had to wait until after 11 p.m. to use the court on normal weekdays. The university intends to reserve the new space for informal recreation as much as possible.

For an exercise science major like Anders Swanson-Lane, the expanded wellness center is not just for physical fitness but also for academic courses and socializing. He believes it will become a gathering spot that will draw more people to exercise.

“I think the complex will open up opportunities for new friendships and groups to form,” Swanson-Lane said. “Students will now have a new way to connect," Swanson-Lane concluded.

The original article was published on the North American Division website.