Students, faculty and community members will soon have a new place to exercise in Ephraim.

Snow College is using $5,000,000 received from the Utah State Legislature in March to build a new athletics center.

According to Athletics Director Rob Nielson, the 17,700 square foot building is a much-needed addition to campus.

“We’re grateful for the legislatures to see the need that we have here on campus for our students and our athletes,” Nielson says.

The money was a bit of a surprise according to Nielson, and the school is being very cautious to make a community center.

Beyond just a gym, the building will have an athletic weight room, training rooms, coaching offices and classrooms.

Nielson says one of the major concerns for students is a lack of places to work out.

“And this will really answer that question,” Nielson says. “And I think it’ll be a recruiting tool for us to have a better facility for our students.

Construction is planned to begin in January, with the completion expected in August 2019.