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Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point broke ground Friday morning for a new fitness center for its personnel. The 93,000 square-foot center replaces a 13,260 square foot gym that has existed in a converted warehouse since 1997.

The base has been growing its improvements for over 30 years, officers say. In addition to the upcoming fitness facility an aquatics training center, construction is currently going on for a new theater, fire station and hangars.

Whiting Turner Contracting Company will do the construction.

Chief Operations Officer Jonathan Mason  (Bill Hand / New Bern Live)

The facility will cost $57.7 million. Chief Operations Officer Jonathan Mason said numerous facilities on campuses and other places were studied when planning the new center. As to the long-term projects, “Over a billion dollars that’s been invested in Cherry Point alone.”

Commander Christopher Over, buildings director, said that base personnel are looking forward to the facility’s completion. “The marines and sailors are very, very excited about this. I think they’re going to have a difficult time holding their patience as the construction progresses,” he said. The current gym is actually spread out across four buildings. This new facility will put all the fitness and aquatic facilities in one building.”

Commander Christopher Over (Bill Hand / New Bern Live)

Commanding Officer Col. Brendan Burks noted that “This is a monumental time for Cherry Point,” said Col. Burks. “This will be our first purpose-built gym here, and this gym will give the Marines that physical advantage they need to go forward and do our Nation’s bidding. I cannot thank everybody enough for all their efforts.”

“We’ve been stuck into a warehouse space so having something that’s purpose built for them here is certainly a great opportunity and a great investment,” Mason said.

The center is expected to open in fall 2026.