When Georgia Gwinnett College needed a fitness center, it found one in its backyard.

The former Fitness International workout complex near the intersection of Ga. 316 and Collins Hill Road was purchased by the Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation, and has become an immediate hit with students and staff.

Kimberly SmithAJC (ENLARGE)

Brittany Durkee of Dacula, a history student at Georgia Gwinnett College this summer, works out in the cardio room at the new Fitness Center in Lawrenceville. She plans to continue this fall at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. Georgia Gwinnett College's fitness center includes a large gym, running track and pool.

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"The level of enthusiasm is through the roof," says Bill Rogers, GGC director of intramural sports and recreation. "And I wouldn't say that about just students. The same goes for our faculty and staff. Everyone has really embraced the wellness model at GGC. The Fitness Center is a place for our community to congregate, meet up with friends, get a great workout, and start adopting a healthy lifestyle, if they haven't already."

The GGC Foundation purchased the 36,862-square-foot building and most of the equipment inside for $5.5 million, which included two acres of land.

The exterior of the building has been painted and branded with the college's contemporary "G" logo, while the interior has been re-carpeted, re-tiled and re-painted. The pool was regrouted, the pool deck re-laid and new lockers were brought in. The complex features comfortable lounge seating, an area with games such as Nintendo Wii and ping pong, and three racquetball courts.

The GGC Fitness Center also houses a large gymnasium surrounded by an upstairs running track, a training area with 55 pieces of free-weight equipment, a strength training area with guided-path machinery and a spacious cardiovascular area with a bank of televisions and more than 40 stair-climbers, treadmills and stationary bikes.