Contact: Rosanne Fohn, (210) 567-3079

President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., welcomes faculty, staff, students and guests to the groundbreaking ceremony.
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SAN ANTONIO (Sept. 11, 2008) — The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio will soon have a new amenity for faculty, staff, students and the surrounding community — the Spectrum Athletic Club at the Medical Center.

A groundbreaking celebration for the 37,000-square-foot facility, being built on campus through a partnership between the Health Science Center and Spectrum Athletic Clubs, was held on Sept. 11, at the university’s outdoor recreation area on Merton Minter Boulevard.

Leadership from both organizations, as well as Health Science Center Student Government Association representatives, participated in the ceremony.

Promoting healthy lifestyles
“We are pleased to partner with Spectrum to be able to offer a first-class health and fitness club here on our campus,” Health Science Center President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., said. “This truly fits our mission to promote healthier lifestyles, not only for our students and employees, but also for the community.”

First-class facilities
The two-story facility will be open 24/7 and will offer the latest cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, complete with personal viewing screens, as well as free weights, a basketball court, group exercise classes, a sauna and steam room. The club also will feature luxury locker rooms, a student lounge, full-service café with Internet access and three individual power-napping rooms. An outdoor pool will occupy an additional 8,000 feet.

“The new Spectrum Athletic Club on the UT Health Science Center campus is a great example of the innovative partnerships Spectrum has become known for,” Spectrum Chief Operating Officer Andy Gillen said.

“We are committed to the well-being and fitness of the San Antonio community and have the ability to work with organizations such as the Health Science Center to develop programs and facilities that can be tailored to their needs,” Gillen added. “This location will provide busy students, faculty and physicians access to a state-of-the-art exercise facility without ever having to leave the campus. The club also expands our reach in the San Antonio community, providing others who live and work in the medical center area convenient access to another Spectrum Club location.”

Campus leaders, inculding Student Government Association representatives, join with Spectrum leadership at the groundbreaking.

Student referendum made it possible
Because state funds cannot be used to construct the building, the $5.5 million facility is being funded by a loan from The University of Texas System, similar to methods used by other state universities. “The students have been asking for this for several years, but we could not build it without their help. In October 2007, the students passed a referendum to pay a fitness center fee each semester,” said Theresa Chiang, Ed.D., vice president for Academic Administration at the Health Science Center.

Students wanted to improve campus quality of life
Medical student Maheshika Ratnayake, who was president of the Student Government Association when the fee was approved by students, said, “It is typically difficult to pass any measure that will increase fees, but since it was an initiative that will lead to improved quality of life and strengthen the Health Science Center, students gave it careful consideration.” Now with the project under way, Ratnayake said, “It feels wonderful! We’re all very excited and anxiously awaiting the opening of our new gym.”

The Health Science Center will pay to construct the shell of the building and will finish out the basketball courts. Through a 15-year lease agreement, Spectrum Athletic Clubs will complete the rest of the facility, build the pool, provide the equipment and personnel, and operate the club.

Facility to be located at outdoor recreation area
The Spectrum Athletic Club at the Medical Center will complement the nearly 15-acre outdoor recreational area on the Health Science Center campus, which includes a half-mile track, football and softball fields, and tennis and sand volleyball courts.

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The University of Texas health Science Center at San Antonio is the leading research institution in South Texas and one of the major health sciences universities in the world. With an operating budget of $668 million, the Health Science Center is the chief catalyst for the $15.3 billion biosciences and health care sector in San Antonio’s economy. The Health Science Center has had an estimated $35 billion impact on the region since inception and has expanded to six campuses in San Antonio, Laredo, Harlingen and Edinburg. More than 23,000 graduates (physicians, dentists, nurses, scientists and other health professionals) serve in their fields, including many in Texas. Health Science Center faculty are international leaders in cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, aging, stroke prevention, kidney disease, orthopaedics, research imaging, transplant surgery, psychiatry and clinical neurosciences, pain management, genetics, nursing, dentistry and many other fields. For more information, visit www.uthscsa.edu.