Samford University's new fitness center will have a grand opening Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to Nick Madsen, director of campus recreation.

The long-awaited fitness center is the latest component to open in the new $32 million Pete Hanna Center. The Hanna Center grand opening began in October with a series of special events and has continued in November with the first athletics events in the Thomas E. and Marla H. Corts Arena.

The new fitness center has more than 4,000-square-feet and replaces very cramped space in the basement of Seibert Hall that had to be shared with athletics teams, Madsen said. Athletics teams will be housed on the first level of Pete Hanna Center and will have a separate weight training and conditioning room.

The new space features eight treadmills, eight elliptical machines, four lifecycles and other strength and conditioning equipment. The machines have personal televisions that can be viewed during workouts, although patrons will need to furnish their own headphones, Madsen added. There also are locker rooms for men and women in the facility.

"This provides an on-campus state-of-the-art facility for our students and employees to use," Madsen said. "We designed the facility based on what our students said they would like to have."

The fitness center is staffed by Madsen and the campus recreation staff. Entrance to the fitness center is on the west side of Pete Hanna Center.

After the Nov. 26 grand opening, the facility will be operate with regular hours from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. – midnight on Sundays.