UC San Francisco Fitness and Recreation celebrated the grand opening of their new rooftop gym at the Bakar Fitness Center at UCSF Mission Bay on October 8th.
The event gave members the opportunity to get to know the new equipment in a friendly TRX competition, while enjoying complimentary refreshments, swag and raffle prizes. The new installation is located on the 4th floor rooftop and features a wide range of adaptable strength equipment including barbells, battle ropes, TRX, and a punching bag.
This new addition was designed with the goal of reducing congestion in the weight room during peak hours, while offering an opportunity to enjoy an outdoor workout with a view of the San Francisco skyline.
“From the beginning, we’ve recognized the potential of the upstairs space. Previously, it was used for sunbathing and stretching, but after COVID, we started adding cardio equipment to make better use of the area. With an excellent view of the city skyline, workouts here are much more enjoyable. We’re excited to draw people to this lesser-known part of the fitness center, and this is just the start of our plans for outdoor improvements. We aim to continue innovating and adding value for UCSF and our members," Bakar Operations Manager, Gregory Ong said.
Bakar Operations Manager, Gregory Ong said.UCSF Fitness and Recreation Pro Trainer and F45 Coach Lia Kilgore said that the new equipment added fun, new possibilities for personal training workouts.
“I really love the outdoor structure because of the fresh air and sunshine. And I love that you can attach different attachments to the structure. It's like Legos. I feel like it makes personal training really fun, because it's like having a gym outside. So, I feel like it gives a new element to personal training which is really unique,” Kilgore said.
UCSF Gym Member Abraham Lin participated in the TRX competition and enjoyed his first experience on the new equipment.
“That was intense, but it's definitely nice to be outside San Francisco. The weather is so nice, and when you're in an office all day you don't want to be in the gym or indoors. So, it's nice to have an outdoor area,” Lin said.
The project would not be complete without Alfredo Gonzalez, Construction Manager at Facilities Services whose team installed the new equipment, realizing the vision for the outdoor gym. According to Ong, the response to the new equipment has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’re just super excited. We’ve been looking forward to this project, and in Fitness, we believe in continuous improvement and innovation to keep the community engaged. The feedback has been fantastic!”
