According to Dayton Einck, senior coordinator of facility operations, over 60% of Iowa State students utilize the on-campus recreation facilities. With over 30,000 students on campus and only two main gyms, however, finding available equipment or space can be a challenge. The demand for workout facilities is high, with more than 940,000 visits recorded at all ISU recreational facilities last year.

Despite the overwhelming demand, ISU Recreation Services is working to maximize the available space. Einck emphasized how ISU Recreation Services relies on data to optimize gym use. 

“We are fortunate to have a highly involved community on campus that utilizes our spaces,” Einck said. “We utilize data, we look at information to make informed decisions. Every hour on the half-hour mark, we have student workers walking around and making counts. They walk around each facility and individualize spaces and count how many participants are in that area.” 

This data helps the team determine peak hours, track equipment usage, and make improvements. Cardio machines, for example, record mileage and minutes used, providing insight into which pieces are most popular. 

Einck also noted that a newly implemented live visitor count feature allows students to check real-time occupancy numbers on the ISU Rec website.  

“This gets updated every hour on the half-hour mark,” Einck said. “Hopefully, this is another tool for our members to utilize, so they can be more informed.

Isabella Harding, a junior studying kinesiology and health, said it can be frustrating when the gyms are overcrowded.  

“I’ve had to change my workout routine because there were too many people doing what I wanted to do,” Harding said. “The StairMasters are always full or they’re broken.”  

Ella Maier, another junior studying kinesiology and health, has also struggled with congestion at the gyms.  

“Whenever I go later, like in the afternoons, I can never use the equipment I want because it’s super busy,” Maier said. “I can’t get access to machines or have to wait long periods of time to use different equipment. I will usually just wait or have to find something else that’s open to do.” 

Harding thinks the gym sizes are sufficient but would like to see more equipment options. 

“I think the two gyms are big enough, but I would definitely like to expand on the amount of equipment,” Harding said. 

Maier specifically pointed to a need for more cardio machines.  

“Everyone wants to get on the StairMaster, and you always have to wait,” Maier said. “I get that we have the tracks, which are good, but we need more cardio equipment for the number of people that go there.” 

ISU Recreation Services is working to alleviate these concerns. In addition to the live visitor count, staff members actively monitor space usage and guide students to less crowded areas. 

“Our student workers will walk around and help guide members to alternative spaces where if they want a certain type of equipment, we have something similar in a different area,” Einck explained.  

Additionally, staff can check camera feeds and court reservation schedules to direct students toward available workout spaces. The ISU Rec app will soon include the live visitor count feature, further enhancing accessibility.