The Gentile Hall fitness center at the University of Maine at Presque Isle recently installed more than $15,000 in new equipment. The installation is helping to ensure that patrons continue to have high quality equipment for their use in the workout facilities.

The $15,000 allowed for the replacement of the three older and very popular elliptical cross-training machines, as well as the fitness center’s two stepper machines. With other recent equipment upgrades that have been made, this brings the total amount of improvements at Gentile Hall in the last year to over $28,000.

The three new elliptical machines are the latest models and are significant upgrades of the previous pieces of equipment. The two new stepper machines replace equipment that has been in place since Gentile Hall opened its doors five years ago. According to Dick Gardiner, Director of Gentile Hall, these commercial grade machines can be quite expensive and the University works hard to replace this equipment on a scheduled basis.

“The cross trainers and steppers are some of our most heavily utilized machines and we are pleased to be able to upgrade the equipment to provide our users with a pleasant and productive workout,” Gardiner said.

Gentile Hall, which opened in 2006, was named in honor of the University’s longest serving faculty member, Caroline D. Gentile. Along with the fitness center, the wellness facility features a large multipurpose court, pool, elevated track, and climbing wall. The facility supports the University’s academic programs and student body, but also welcomes the community to use its resources.

“Miss Gentile spent a lifetime promoting health and physical education and we know she’d be pleased to see UMPI’s health and wellness facility continuing to provide a top notch fitness center for the campus and community,” Gardiner said.

For information about Gentile Hall or memberships, call 768.9772 or visit www.umpi.edu/gentile-hall.