*Editor’s Note: Staff Writer Sydney Brammer is one of the HIIT coaches at the weight shed.
Eight years have passed since an area of well-manicured grass and flowers became a place where students could lift weights and build community. That place, intended to be a temporary fix on the road to a more permanent fitness center, has provided students with found friendships, jobs and another opportunity to weightlift.
During the summer of 2016, that eye-catching area in the corner between Klassen Hall and the track became what is now known as “the weight shed” or “shed,” stemming from an idea Alisa Ward, a PLNU kinesiology professor and the 2012-2022 intramural director, had.
The shed took about six to eight weeks to build, according to PLNU Manager of Event and Support Services Steven Riddle, who was one of an estimated seven to help build it. The intention with the shed was to build something to store weights so students could exercise outside and have a view of the ocean, he said.
During the time Ward served as intramural director, there was only one place students, athletic teams and kinesiology classes could train — the open gym, or the sports performance center, located inside the Golden Gymnasium. When PLNU became Division II in 2014, athletic teams began a required strength training program, offered to athletes at specific times depending on their sport. This took away time from the general student population and kinesiology classes to be able to exercise outside of the 7-11 p.m. time slot available.
So, the shed was born — a shed that stores a variety of equipment ranging from squat racks, benches, barbells, ropes, box jumps and free weights, where students can take them outside to exercise with a view of the ocean. Since its birth in 2016, it’s offered students time to weightlift from 3-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, coaching and shed supervisor jobs and extra kinesiology classes.
The shed has provided coaching classes since it was first constructed as a way for beginners to learn functional movements and build strength. In the early stages of its start, the shed didn’t get much attention.
“The first year (2016-17), not a lot of people knew that it existed or that they were allowed to use it,” Ward said.
But as time went on with the help of word of mouth and intramurals and ASB (associated student body) promotion, students slowly started to learn of this new option, according to Ward.
Flash forward nearly eight years later, the shed continues to offer HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes Monday-Friday with an additional one on Sunday with three different coaches, each day targeting different muscle groups.
Jazmin Santos, a fourth-year biology major, is one of three HIIT coaches for the fall semester and coaches the newly added Sunday class.
“I think it’s really cool that there’s three of us coaching it because we have different skills and bring more diversity to a HIIT class,” Santos said.
The shed also provides student job opportunities, especially for those looking to pursue a career in coaching.
“It’s giving an opportunity for student workers to practice their leadership,” according to Abigail Laberge, the PLNU intramural director.
The classes are only able to be offered from 3-5 p.m. because after 5 p.m., there are no lights which is a safety hazard, and due to San Diego ordinances, PLNU is prohibited from inputting stadium lights over 30 feet for light. Considering earlier times in the day, there have never been classes offered before 3 p.m. due to students typically being in class and kinesiology classes conflicts.
Similarly, the open gym is only open Sunday-Thursday from 7-11 p.m. because kinesiology classes and athletic teams are done and there aren’t nearly as many classes during that time.
As part of the campus master plan, a fitness center is proposed to be located where the gym parking lot currently is.
“The fitness center hasn’t been officially approved but is in the final consideration process,” Jeff Bolster, the vice president of university services, said in an email interview.
In the meantime, developments on the shed are being looked at as a possibility, according to Bolster.
“As early as summer ‘25, we could install an updated structure there,” Bolster said. “We’re in the early stages of that planning and should know more soon.”
An option for updates could be inputting turf on the area surrounding the shed so that there would be more space for exercising and flatten the ground for a more stable foundation when lifting, according to Ward.
“I think that [inputting turf] would be another great temporary Band-Aid until we get an actual facility,” Ward said.
Aside from the shed, there are a few options for students who are searching for places to exercise. The open gym offers the sports performance center and machines for running, cycling and stairs, dumbbells and medicine balls; PLNU provides student discounts to EOS at 3156 Sports Arena Blvd. and UFC Fit at 3675 Midway Drive. EOS offers a corporate deal of a $1 enrollment fee then $17.99 a month or $29.99 annual — membership code is “1902.” UFC Fit has no enrollment fee and is $24 monthly ($28 first month) and $59 annual charged after 60 days.
You can also visit a video by Jacob Goodin, PLNU professor of kinesiology with script help from Ward that presents more ideas on where to work out around or off campus.
