HAMILTON, Ont. - The Department of Athletics & Recreation at McMaster University has announced that the expanded and renovated Pulse Fitness Centre will have a "soft opening" Monday, December 12. 
 
Since receiving the keys to its new space from contractors late last week, Pulse Fitness Centre and Athletics & Recreation staff have worked extremely hard to get the gym ready in record time. Each piece of new equipment has been tested and inspected, and is ready for use. While the gym is fully operational, there are some cosmetic finishes still to be completed - resulting in members seeing minor work being done in the space over the next few months - installing graphics, signage, and audio/visual equipment.

Monday's soft opening will invite members to use the Pulse's expanded cardio level that includes treadmills, ellipticals, Arc Trainers, rowers, ski-ergs, air bikes, recumbent and upright bikes, and step mills. The first floor weight training section will be fully operational and includes plate loaded equipment, selectorized and cable (weight stack) machines, free weights, racks and platforms. In addition, there is a brand new Women's Only fitness area including a wide variety of cardio and weights, as well as a fitness studio.

The Pulse's state-of-the-art, three-story climbing wall, and three brand new fitness studios on the third floor will be ready in the new year, in time for the Pulse's Grand Opening.

The temporary Pulse locations in Therese Quigley Sport Hall and on the track level will close for good as of Sunday, Dec. 11 at 10:30 p.m. Athletics & Recreation will be transitioning Sport Hall back into a fully functional recreational space for intramural, drop-in recreation and rental use in January. At the completion of the Student Activity and Fitness Expansion (S.A.F.E.) project, the indoor running track will also undergo a renovation before reopening.



Pulse Fitness Centre - Frequently Asked Questions

When is the newly renovated and expanded Pulse Fitnss Centre opening?
The expanded and renovated Pulse Fitness Centre will have a "soft open" on Monday, December 12, 2022.

When the new Pulse opens will everything be ready to use? 
The soft opening will invite members to use our expanded all new cardio level that includes treadmills, ellipticals, Arc Trainers, rowers, ski-ergs, air bikes, recumbent and upright bikes, and step mills. The first floor weight training section will be fully operational and includes plate loaded equipment, selectorized and cable (weight stack) machines, free weights, racks and platforms. In addition, there is a Women's Only fitness area including a wide variety of cardio and weights, as well as a fitness studio.

Please note that our new state-of-the-art three-story climbing wall, and three brand new fitness studios on the third floor will be ready in the new year, just in time for our Grand Opening.

Can I still work out in the DBAC Sport Hall or on the track?
As of Sunday, December 10 at 10:30 p.m. the temporary Pulse locations in Therese Quigley Sport Hall and on the track level will close for good. We'll be transitioning the Sport Hall back into a fully functional recreational space for everyone to enjoy in January. At the completion of the S.A.F.E. project, the indoor running track will undergo a renovation before reopening.

Who can access the new Pulse?
All undergraduate students who pay MSU fees have access to the Pulse and are "members"; graduate students, faculty and staff can purchase memberships at a discounted rate. Community members can also purchase Pulse memberships at the full rate. When we refer to 'members' we are referring to all these groups and there will be no disruption of service for them. We will be closing as usual during the University shutdown from December 24, 2022 – January 3, 2023. For more information, visit https://rec.mcmaster.ca/programs/pulse-fitness-centre

Is the climbing wall ready for use?
The climbing wall is not yet ready for use by members, and will be open in January 2023

Will the fitness classes now be in the new Pulse space?
Fitness classes will remain in their current, temporary locations until the holiday closure on December 23, 2022. The new fitness studios will be open for fitness classes as of Monday, January 9, 2023.
For the latest news and updates on The Pulse Fitness Centre or McMaster Recreation offerings, visit rec.mcmaster.ca or follow @MacRecreation on social media.