New fitness center to hold grand opening Published April 3, 2012 By 1st Lt Ken Lustig 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A new, $25M base fitness facility will hold its grand opening April 10. The Warrior Fitness Center grand opening ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. and will transfer operations from the old gym at noon. The 110,000 square-foot facility is conveniently located near the base's Freedom Park static display area and other existing fitness tracks and fields. It features three racketball, three basketball and three volleyball courts, an indoor swimming pool and indoor, eighth-mile running track, and a variety of cardio and weight training equipment to serve a broad cross-section of fitness interests. Doug Kingery, 99th Force Support Squadron's fitness center director, said the facility is more than just a building. "The objective was to provide a state-of-the-art training facility that will evoke a sense of pride, define a commitment to health and fitness, and enhance our airmen's quality of life," Kingery said. "Air Force Fitness Centers directly contribute to mission readiness by enhancing the physical/mental fitness and morale of our customers." Kingery said the new gym is replacing a facility that is more than forty years old and almost 65,000 square feet smaller, inefficient and inadequate for the needs of the base population. "The new layout is not only functionally better but also has an excellent modern look and many new spaces," he said. "By increasing the square footage, we were able to add a multitude of cardio, weight equipment, a separate aerobics and cycling room and a truly needed third basketball court to support squadron [physical training]." The facility also has a massage room, enhanced Parent Child workout room with weight machines and a separate changing area, and a modernized locker room area with saunas and individual showers. For refreshment, it includes a Juice Bar which offers nutritional sandwiches, snacks, beverages and sundry items. Certified personal trainers will be on staff (both military and contract), able to assist people in achieving their fitness goals. The fitness center also has licensed massage therapists available for appointment. Kingery said that contract trainers and massage therapists' rates are very reasonable and cheaper than going off-base, and the new gym will also offer many free services and programs including group exercise and intramural sports. The new building was built to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's 'silver' rating standards. This LEED certification exceeds the standards of the United States Green Building Council and surpasses environmental requirements for new government construction. The environmentally-friendly design includes low-E argon gas exterior glazing to improve insulation and reduce the impact of the desert sun. The lighting control system minimizes waste energy consumption by shutting down unnecessary light in unused areas. Additionally, the pool will be kept warm with rejected heat from the HVAC system, which itself uses a fuel-efficient plant for heating and cooling. Low-maintenance materials were used throughout, with exterior metal and terra cotta coverings specifically selected for their suitability in the desert climate.
