A Guide to Pottruck Health and Fitness Center

During the early going of one’s time at Penn, nearly every place on campus feels unfamiliar. And whether exercise is a staple of your daily routine or just a hobby you’re interested in exploring, it’s always helpful to understand a new space. Let’s break down the layout of Pottruck Health and Fitness Center, Penn’s premier place for exercise and recreation.

Entrance

Pottruck is located at 3701 Walnut Street, across from the Graduate School of Education and beside a parking garage and Hello World. The main entrance is located up a small set of stairs and is unlocked during operational hours. Below is Pottruck’s current schedule:

Monday – Friday: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Once inside, guests will be asked to sign in to the facility. Pottruck is free to all PennCard holders, and students can either scan their PennCard at the front desk or sign in via the campus recreation app. All front desk staff are friendly and willing to assist in the event of any trouble.

For those who are not students or staff and are visiting campus, guest day passes can be purchased at the front desk for $15. Equipment such as basketballs can also be rented at the front desk free of charge. Guests can also access Pottruck’s Lost and Found by speaking with front desk staff.

First Floor

The first floor of the facility contains two main sections: first is the main atrium that encompasses the front desk. Here, guests can find a small collection of tables and chairs, as well as a set of couches and a television that usually shows live sports or sports talk shows. This section also formerly housed Sweet Treat Hut, where guests could purchase smoothies, protein shakes, and other food/drinks before its sudden closure in April.

Also in the atrium is the facility’s climbing wall, which reaches 40 feet into the air and accommodates climbers of all experience levels. All necessary equipment is provided by Pottruck and can be rented at the front desk.

Next to the atrium is the Katz Fitness Center, Pottruck’s largest collection of cardio equipment, complete with treadmills, ellipticals, stairmasters, and other machines. The area is complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that face the neighboring parking garage.

The first floor also contains offices and meeting rooms used by Penn recreation staff, as well as the newly-renovated Rec Lounge, a space behind the climbing wall that contains board games, bean bag chairs, and a study area.

In a typical year, this floor’s staircases would provide access to Pottruck’s basement, which houses Sheerr Pool, additional locker rooms, and a sauna, but the facility is currently undergoing renovations that will keep it closed for the entirety of the 2024-25 academic year.

Each floor of the facility also has lockers where guests can store their belongings as well as men’s and women’s restrooms in the back left corner.

Second Floor

The second floor is perhaps Pottruck’s busiest, housing its primary weightlifting area as well as the Avnet Basketball Courts. The weightlifting room, which covers over 8,000 square feet, is located to the left of the staircase, and contains equipment such as dumbbells, barbells, bench presses, power racks, deadlift platforms, cables, and a number of additional machines. The weightlifting room also contains windows that look out onto Walnut Street and the surrounding buildings.

To the right of the staircase is the Avnet Basketball Courts, where guests can play during any time the gym is open. Guests may bring their own ball or rent one from the front desk. Open shootaround is available, but guests are permitted to share the courts during peak hours. Pickup games are common and open to players of all experience levels. The basketball courts also occasionally host vaccine clinics, including the flu vaccine.

The second floor also houses Pottruck’s multi-purpose room, which is located down the hallway immediately to the left after entering the basketball courts. The multi-purpose room features additional cardio and weightlifting equipment, as well as a turf area for stretching and exercising, medicine balls, kettlebells, and several punching bags and a speed bag. The multi-purpose room is often less crowded than the main weightlifting area, and also contains additional lockers.

Third Floor

The third floor is regarded as Pottruck’s “quiet floor” with no music playing overhead. It contains additional cardio and weightlifting equipment, including a condensed set of free weights, as well as a number of rooms designed to enhance the facility’s recreational experience.

These include the Cycling and Pilates studios, which hold group exercise classes throughout the week and can be booked for private sessions for a cost. New to Pottruck is the third floor Recovery Room, a recently renovated space that features reclining chairs, compression boots, and massage guns. Bays are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, but can also be reserved for 30 minutes at a time for a cost.

Fourth Floor

The fourth floor also contains additional cardio and weightlifting equipment, including a CrossFit area. It also offers additional studios that offer group exercise classes throughout the week, including a HIIT studio. These rooms are generally closed to the public outside of class times but can be rented for private use for a cost.

Clubs

Pottruck is home to many of Penn’s recreational clubs, including many club and intramural sports. These include club and intramural basketball, Climbing Club, Penn Barbell Club, and many more. First-year students can learn more about these clubs and explore campus recreation’s offerings during “Night at the Rec,” which will take place at Pottruck during New Student Orientation on Friday, August 23 from 7-9 p.m.

General Advice

Below is a list of general tips for those new to Pottruck:

• During the week, 5-8 p.m. is generally the facility’s busiest time, with 6 am to 8 am being its slowest. During the weekend, traffic is more evenly distributed.
• Guests are forbidden from cursing or fighting during games at the Avnet Basketball courts.
• Wipe down all equipment upon completion of a workout — each floor contains multiple conveniently located wet wipe stations for sanitation.
• Only occupy one piece of equipment at a time.
• Guests in the weightlifting areas are generally friendly and willing to “work in” with one another, meaning share pieces of equipment by switching off sets.

More information on all of Pottruck and other recreational offerings can be found on the campus recreation website.