Fitness Centers

ADDRESS: 715 23rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55454 (click for Google Maps)

In the lower level of the Kennedy Center is the James Haglund Family Fitness and Recreation Center, a space that is devoted to the fitness and wellness of the Augsburg community. With the opening of the facility, Augsburg's fitness and training space was doubled, including the renovations to the Donny Wichmann '89 Weight Room. The two fitness facilities are adjacent to each other on the lower level of the Si Melby Hall/Kennedy Center complex. The fitness facilities are open and free for use by all Augsburg students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The centerpiece of the lower level of Si Melby Hall is the Donny Wichmann '89 Weight Room, a place where student-athletes and members of the Augsburg community build their physical strength. The weight room was basically doubled in size during two separate expansions in a 2000 renovation project. The first project, in the fall of 1999, expanded the facility by 277 square feet. Another 677 square-foot expansion was completed during the main phase of the 2000 project, leaving a 1,600-square-foot space for Auggies to train.

The Donny Wichmann '89 Weight Room was re-dedicated in 2022 in honor of Donny Wichmann, who was an outstanding competitor and coach for Augsburg's nationally-renowned men's wrestling program. A three-time Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion, a national tournament All-American and a longtime assistant coach who was a part of 10 NCAA Division III national championship teams with the Auggies, Wichmann was recognized for his excellence by being inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 and the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Hall of Fame in 2019. Wichmann passed away in 2019 after a battle with brain cancer.

Following the 2006 Kennedy Center addition project, the Donny Wichmann '89 Weight Room is now one of two training facilities for use by the college; the James Haglund Family Fitness Center is in the lower level of the Kennedy Center.

The James Haglund Family Fitness and Recreation Center is designed as a compliment to the Donny Wichmann '89 Weight Room. The Wichmann weight room is now primarily geared towards free weights and weight training, along with the use of resistance bands, Mini Bands, exercise balls and exercise sliders. The Haglund complex is primarily geared towards aerobic and fitness training. The Haglund fitness complex features numerous treadmills, stairmasters and exercise bikes. Two flat-screen TVs are also available for users to watch. The complex also features several Precor fitness and weight-training machines, designed for ease of use by the general public. There are also free weights available for use in the Haglund complex.

The James Haglund Family Fitness and Recreation Center is named in honor of James Haglund, a longtime supporter of Augsburg who has served as a member of the Board of Regents. His daughter, Dawn is a 1997 graduate of Augsburg. He is the president and owner of Minneapolis-based Central Container Corporation and is co-owner of Spectrum Screen Printing. Haglund received the university's Spirit of Augsburg award in 2009.