There was always the Campus Recreation Center, she said, but she shuddered at exercising in a "small room, scrunched together" with other students. She almost spent $30 a month for a private fitness club membership.

But Heckman, 21, decided to stick with the campus center, and now, after an $850,000 renovation, she couldn't be happier.

"I think it's so much better now. It's a lot more open, and it definitely needed it," said Heckman, clutching an iPod, earphones and a magazine en route to a Thursday afternoon workout. "It's just so nice."

The Campus Recreation Center, housed in the A.D. Albright Health Center on the Norse campus, has undergone a facelift thanks to a student initiative to better its services.

ABOUT THE CENTER

What: Campus Recreation Center, Northern Kentucky University Where: A.D. Albright Health Center Who: Free to NKU students, faculty and staff. Alumni may buy memberships. Residents of 41076 ZIP code also may purchase limited community memberships. Info: (859) 572-5197.

Acting CRC director Sue Roth said student fees funded changes, including a 3,000-square-foot weight- and cardio-room expansion and converting three racquetball courts into a 2,800-foot multi-purpose room.

"I think it just provides an enormous opportunity for students because a lot of them weren't happy with the weight room," Roth said. "Instead of going to other gyms, which wasn't convenient, and spending a lot of money, now we can offer what other schools can."

Among the new equipment are free weights, four stationary bikes, five treadmills, 13 televisions and dozens of weight stations.

Since the renovations were unveiled Oct. 13, about 2,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members have taken advantage of the new space and equipment each week. The grand opening is slated for Nov. 17.

Paul Bob Sorrell, a fourth-year junior and weight room supervisor, said the main fitness room's updated equipment, new upper level and sound system have attracted a new crowd.

"It was bad (before). A narrow room was our only weight room, and it had all the machines and cardio equipment in it," Sorrell said. "This is a huge step compared to what it used to be."

Although members still swim laps, run on an indoor track and play racquetball, the center's free weights have created an unheralded buzz. Roth said the plates won't arrive until December, although that hasn't deterred some from raising the unweighted bars.

Senior Todd Sarge, 23, said he's excited to finally do a full workout on campus.

"This is as good as a membership anywhere," Sarge said.

E-mail srussell@enquirer.com