A Guide to Pottruck Health and Fitness Center

When you’re first starting out at Penn, almost every place on campus feels unfamiliar. And whether sports are a staple in your daily routine or just a hobby you want to try, it’s always helpful to get to know a new place. Let’s analyze the floor plan of the Pottruck Health and Fitness Center, Penn’s premier place for sports and recreation.

Entrance

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

Monday – Friday: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday: 9am – 8pm

Once inside, guests are asked to register at the facility. Pottruck is free for all PennCard holders, and students can either scan their PennCard at the front desk or register through the Campus Recreation app. All front desk staff are friendly and happy to help with any issues.

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

First floor

The ground floor of the facility consists of two main areas: First, there is the main atrium, where the reception is located. Here, guests will find a small selection of tables and chairs, as well as a few couches and a TV that usually shows live sports or sports talk shows. This area also used to house the Sweet Treat Hut, where guests could purchase smoothies, protein shakes and other food and drinks, before it suddenly closed in April.

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

Adjacent to the atrium is the Katz Fitness Center, Pottruck’s largest collection of cardio equipment, complete with treadmills, ellipticals, steppers and other equipment. The area features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the neighboring parking garage.

The ground floor also includes offices and meeting rooms used by Penn’s recreation staff, as well as the newly renovated Rec Lounge, a space behind the climbing wall that offers board games, bean bags, and a work area.

In a normal year, the stairs on this floor would provide access to Pottruck’s basement, which houses the Sheerr swimming pool, additional locker rooms, and a sauna, but the facility is currently undergoing renovations and will therefore remain closed for the entire 2024–25 academic year.

There are also lockers on each floor of the property for guests to store their belongings, as well as men’s and women’s restrooms in the back left corner.

Second floor

The second floor is probably Pottruck’s busiest as it houses the main weightlifting area as well as the Avnet basketball courts. The weightlifting room, which spans 8,000 square feet, is located to the left of the stairs and contains equipment such as dumbbells, barbells, bench presses, power racks, deadlift platforms, cables, and a number of other machines. The weightlifting room also has windows overlooking Walnut Street and the surrounding buildings.

To the right of the stairs are the Avnet basketball courts, where guests can play when the gym is open. Guests may bring their own ball or rent one from the front desk. Open shootaround is available, but guests are allowed to share the courts during peak hours. Home-based games are common and open to players of all skill levels. The basketball courts also occasionally host vaccination appointments, including flu shots.

The second floor is also home to Pottruck’s multipurpose room, located at the end of the hallway just to the left after entering the basketball courts. The multipurpose room has additional cardio and weight lifting equipment, as well as a grass area for stretching and working out, medicine balls, kettlebells, and several punching bags and a speed bag. The multipurpose room is often less crowded than the main weight lifting area and also has additional lockers.

Third floor

The third floor is considered Pottruck’s “quiet floor,” where no music plays from above, and contains additional cardio and strength training equipment, including a compact 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 offer group exercise classes throughout the week and can be booked for private lessons for a fee. New to Pottruck is the Recovery Room on the third floor, a recently renovated space with lounge chairs, compression boots and massage guns. Spaces are first-come, first-served, but can also be reserved for 30 minutes at a time for a fee.

Fourth floor

The fourth floor also houses additional cardio and strength training equipment, including a CrossFit area. There are also additional studios that offer group exercise classes throughout the week, including a HIIT studio. These spaces are typically closed to the public outside of class hours, but can be rented for private use for a fee.

Clubs

Pottruck is home to many of Penn’s recreational clubs, including many club and varsity sports. These include club and varsity basketball, climbing club, Penn Barbell Club, and many more. Freshmen can learn more about these clubs and explore campus recreational opportunities during “Night at the Rec,” which takes place during new student orientation on Friday, August 23 from 7-9 p.m. in Pottruck.

General information

Below is a list of general tips for Pottruck newbies:

• During the week, the facility is usually busiest between 5 and 8 p.m. and least busy between 6 and 8 a.m. At weekends, traffic is more evenly distributed.
• Guests are prohibited from swearing or fighting during games on Avnet basketball courts.
• Wipe down all equipment after training. There are several conveniently located stations with wet wipes on each floor for disinfection.
• Only use one device at a time.
• The patrons in the weight lifting areas are generally friendly and willing to “work” with each other, that is, they share equipment by alternating sets.

For more information about Pottruck and other recreational activities, visit the Website for leisure activities on campus.