Dartmouth Alumni Gymnasium: A Hub of Athletic Life and Wellness
Dartmouth College's Alumni Gymnasium stands as a central landmark in Hanover, New Hampshire, embodying the institution's commitment to athletic excellence and student well-being. More than just a building, it's a dynamic space where students, faculty, and alumni converge to pursue their fitness goals, engage in friendly competition, and foster a strong sense of community. The gym is a great place to exercise and a social space where you will bump into friends and classmates getting in a workout before or after class.
A Historical Landmark
Designed by Charles Rich and Fredrick Mathesius, the Alumni Gymnasium's construction began in 1909 under the leadership of College President Ernest Fox Nichols. The building cost approximately $190,000. The cornerstone of the gymnasium holds a collection of historical artifacts, including a file of the "New Gymnasium News," copies of the student newspaper "The Dartmouth," the humor magazine "Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern," and the yearbook, "The Aegis."
The gymnasium has served various purposes throughout its history. During World War I, it was transformed into barracks, and during World War II, it functioned as an armory and lounge. In 1938, engineers from the Thayer School of Engineering constructed a springy board track of Canadian spruce around the inside of the gym, which was used by Glenn Cunningham to break the American mile record that year.
Modernization and Expansion
In 1962-1963, the gym underwent extensive remodeling, which included a new basketball court and the addition of the Karl B. Michael Pool, enhancing Dartmouth College aquatic facilities. A significant $12 million renovation was completed in the spring of 2006, further modernizing the facility.
The recent renovation aimed to revitalize and restore the grandeur of the Dartmouth Alumni Gymnasium through a design intervention that is modern, but respectful of this building’s history. A defining step in creating this lively, welcoming and light-filled space was removing the 1970s-era suspended ceiling and insulation at the bottom chord of the trusses. The result revealed 10 large steel trusses capping the space. Critical to the renovation was the addition of a new exterior ramp and lobby elevator for ADA accessibility. The design challenge was integrating the elevator shaft at each floor level-from the historic lobby to the new fitness center.
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State-of-the-Art Facilities
Alumni Gymnasium boasts an impressive array of facilities catering to diverse athletic and fitness interests. The 16,000-square-foot fitness center houses hundreds of lifting machines, three full-sized dumbbell areas, pools, and basketball courts. Visitors are now greeted by a large, exciting space with exposed steel trusses and dramatic lighting. Several new multi-use fitness spaces and multipurpose rooms also were carved out of the existing facility. The new fitness center is equipped with multimedia, state-of-the-art exercise equipment. In terms of equipment, the gym has treadmills, biking machines, weights, and various other forms of equipment.
Dartmouth has two different gyms. Floren Varsity House is the main gym for the DI NCAA teams. Most teams have set lift times that they have daily. For non-athletes like myself, Alumni gym is a great place to exercise.
A Hub for Health and Wellness
Dartmouth College goes above and beyond in providing access to health and wellness resources. The gymnasium is not only a place for physical activity but also a space for relaxation and social interaction.
The Sauna Experience
The sauna in the Alumni Gymnasium men’s locker room is a popular spot for students seeking relaxation and recovery. The temperature of the sauna can be controlled by ladling water over hot stones, so it is up to those inside to decide how hot they want it to go. Entering the sauna hydrated is also important.
Sauna users come from the swim teams and the lacrosse teams, from the Engineering and Computer Science Center and the Geisel School of Medicine. During those 15 minutes in the sauna, you find yourself sitting next to people you might never have crossed paths with otherwise. Sauna use, in general, has been linked to pain relief and improved heart health. It offers a break from studying and seclusion.
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Athletics at Dartmouth: A Culture of Participation
Dartmouth offers a wide range of athletic opportunities, catering to all interests and abilities. With state-of-the-art facilities and the stunning outdoor venues of the Upper Valley, there's never a lack of new activities to explore. It's no wonder that 75% of the student body is involved in sports.
Varsity Sports
With 35 Division I varsity teams, the Dartmouth Big Green are known worldwide as a member of the prestigious Ivy League. The most demanding tier of Dartmouth athletics, our alumni include an immense number of Olympic athletes and numerous professional players across a range of sports. With free admission for all students to regular-season games, there's never a lack of cheering fans to pack the stands.
Club Sports
Dartmouth's 33 club sports teams vary from nationally competitive to casual and recreational. From Water Polo to Tae Kwon Do, these student-run squads compete against other colleges across the region. Some clubs hold tryouts whereas others are open for sign-ups, all which depends on the competitiveness of the organization.
Intramural Sports
The most casual and beginner-friendly tier of Dartmouth's athletic hierarchy, intramural sports are a fun way to get active without making too much of a time commitment. Students organize teams and compete against each other in a multitude of sports, all of which have different skill-based brackets to make sure that the matches stay competitive.
Physical Education
Physical Education courses offer students countless opportunities to get active for credit. From dance to martial arts and from yoga to skiing, Physical Education experiences are lead by undergraduate students and faculty alike on activities they're passionate about. Some are even Dartmouth Outing Club-sponsored programs, which involve weekend excursions to explore New Hampshire's scenic countryside. Unlike other courses, PE classes don't meet in normal blocks. Rather, they get together at different times during the week, usually with very lenient schedules.
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Beyond the Gym: Embracing the Outdoors
Dartmouth's location in the Upper Valley provides unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Outdoor Programs Office (OPO)
The Outdoor Programs Office (OPO) helps create opportunities for members of the Dartmouth community to explore and enjoy the amazing natural landscape of New England throughout their time at Dartmouth and beyond. Within OPO, The Dartmouth Outing Club is the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the country.
The Connecticut River
Dartmouth is defined by more than just buildings; seated in the picturesque Upper Valley, we like to use the terrain to our advantage. With the Connecticut River nudging up along the western edge of campus, there's always an open spot to row, kayak, canoe, or even go for a swim.
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