Fitness center makeover Published May 31, 2013 By Senior Airman Laura L. Valentine 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The base fitness center will undergo a "total-body makeover" with scheduled renovations beginning June 1. Planned changes include expansion and renovation to all locker rooms, gymnasium lighting upgrades, indoor running track renovation, entrance enhancements and a front desk facelift. The entire project is slated to be complete in the spring of 2014 and will cost approximately $2 million. Starting the project will be total renovations of the male, female and distinguished visitor locker rooms. "We are trying to optimize the space that we do have," said Bill Hageman, 22nd Force Support Squadron Fitness Center director. Between June 3 and 5, the men's DV locker room will be converted to a temporary women's space. Women will begin using this locker room June 6. Men will start using the temporary men's locker room, which will be located in the current women's space, June 7. One current issue with the men's and women's locker room is that members of the opposite sex mistakenly enter the wrong door, often because of walking with heads down, focused on portable media players. The flooring will be different in each room to help avoid confusion when patrons enter. There will also be large signs distinguishing the two areas, said Hageman. While the location of the locker rooms will not change, layouts will be modified by relocating saunas and slightly expanding into the indoor pool area. Locker bays will be replaced and feature various sizes to accommodate user needs. Moving the saunas will increase space for extra showers. The men's bays will convert from 12 shower heads to 25 individual stalls and the women's will increase to eight stalls. An overhaul to the upstairs running track will rebuild the surface according to current standards of indoor tracks. People doing the indoor physical fitness test are going to love the new running track. The current length cannot be changed but it will have smoother turns, and more runner-friendly embankments, said Hageman. Other upgrades throughout the center will include new carpet and cleaning and repainting of fitness rooms. Notices will be posted throughout the facility identifying areas unavailable for use during renovation. The fitness center was built in 1994 and the addition of a small gymnasium and weight room was built in 2004. Renovations have been planned since 2005. "Our gym is already nice compared to some military gyms I've been in," said Airman 1st Class Kevin Green, 22nd Communications Squadron client systems technician. "The renovations will definitely make it nicer." Green uses the gym four to five days a week for squadron and individual workouts. During an average business week, more than 1,000 service members, retirees, family members and government civilians visit the fitness center each day. Weekend crowds average close to 300 people. With peak hours between 6 and 7:30 a.m., the locker room renovations will allow for more individuals to use the amenities as opposed to driving home or using squadron facilities to get ready for work. The evening rush is from 3:30 to 6 p.m. "We've received complaints about locker rooms from men and women for years," said Hageman. "The renovations are going to give them a full work out facility, and make it more customer service friendly."