Herman W Lay Physical Activities Center

Located on the first floor are the main gymnasium; a fitness center, swimming and diving pools; class and lecture rooms; dressing rooms for students, faculty and staff; a lounge; and offices for the faculty and staff of the Department of Health and Exercise Science and Department of Recreational Sports. The main gymnasium and fitness center occupy the full width of the building. The large gym, embracing 12,000 square feet, has one main basketball court and two crosscourts, eight badminton and three volleyball courts. The fitness center, which is 6,000 square feet, houses some of the most extensive aerobic exercise and weightlifting equipment available.

The swimming pool is 75 feet long and has six complete lanes. The diving pool, which is 30 feet by 30 feet and 13.5 feet deep, has a one-meter diving board. Decks are covered in blue indoor-outdoor carpet. All heat is in the deck, a feature that provides warm air for the swimmer and cool air for spectators in the 300-seat gallery.

Adjacent to the pools are six four-wall indoor hand/racquetball courts that can be lighted for night play.

On the second floor there is a large dance instruction studio with continuous mirrors on one side. In addition to many other uses, the studio is used for aerobic dance, non-credit classes, i.e., Fencing, Tai Chi, Yoga, Aerobics, etc., and also HES credit dance instruction.

A human performance laboratory, which is located adjacent to the building, contains equipment for the scientific study of anatomy, exercise physiology, kinesiology, and motor learning. Although the laboratory is used primarily for teaching and research it also provides the Furman community and members with individual physical fitness assessment through the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training (F.I.R.S.T.).

Furman Fitness Center Membership Information

This page maintained by Martha Vaughan. Last updated June 12, 2008..

The Herman W. Lay Physical Activities Center was completed in the spring of 1973 and since that time has been the center for physical activity on campus. The PAC provides Furman with the facilities for one of the most extensive exercise science programs in the Southeast. The center houses the departments of Health and Exercise Science and Recreational Sports. Recreational space is available for students, faculty and staff, and a limited number of community memberships are offered. Fitness consultations and individual programming is offered to improve the quality of life on the Furman campus and surrounding community.