“I think MSU really outdid themselves with this entire facility,” said urban and regional planning freshman Torion Saulsberry. “I mean, these basketball courts are nice. The golf sim, the dodgeball sim, the ping-pong tables laid out and the turf field downstairs — and the architecture. Everything is just done really well.”

The center, which cost $200 million and five years to construct, offers triple the workout space compared to IM West, a 50-meter pool and an elevated track within eyeshot to the Breslin Center and Munn Ice Arena. It includes two sports arenas for basketball, volleyball and badminton, along with six multipurpose fitness spaces, including an indoor-outdoor yoga studio and a combat sports room.

Neuroscience pre-med sophomore Rena Henderson was stretching across an expansive open turf area in the facility when she said she appreciated the spaciousness that was lacking in IM West, which is set to be demolished next spring.

“I feel like, with this open area and more open areas around the gym, it gives me that freedom to kind of have that space without being too close to someone,” Henderson said

The new facility was built on the southwestern corner of campus on Cherry Lane Park, making it exceptionally convenient for students in South Neighborhood. Journalism sophomore Kendall Sokal, one such student living nearby and one of the first people to try out the equipment Wednesday, said that’s a major benefit of the center. She added that she sees herself returning to the building on a regular basis.

“I think that it's bigger, it includes more people, and more people have the opportunity to work out, rather than having to sit and wait for equipment,” said Sokal.

Half a mile down West Shaw Lane and up Chestnut Road, however, regular gym-goers at IM West appeared disinterested in all the buzz surrounding their gym’s replacement. The long-awaited opening of the new facility in fact temporarily caused the infamously crowded free weight section of IM West to be slightly less busy.

“I think it’s just muscle memory and I think I have so many memories working out here with friends and in general,” said computer science graduate student Ananya Hiddineni. “Also, it’s in a place that is in the middle of the campus.”

Several students working out at IM West said they believed they could avoid crowds by going to the older gym, while others said they just wanted to stick to their habits.

“I thought that it would be less busy during this time and I normally come here at this time anyways,” said civil engineering junior Juliet Brody.

Another reason for sticking to IM West? Its central location makes it an easy spot to hit between classes or walking from several neighborhoods.

“We’re going to be in a house next year, so I don't really want to go across campus to a gym,” said civil engineering sophomore Brady Johnston said of the new facility.

Despite the new fitness center boasting pristine equipment, unblemished turf and the world’s largest ping-pong paddle, there are still some student who will grieve the demise of IM West. The gym will close on April 25, though the pool will remain open until while the new facility’s pool is finished.

“I’ve got a lot of memories here, so it will be kind of sad to see it go,” said psychology and statistics sophomore Matthew Herbst.