The centerpiece of the lower level of Si Melby Hall is the Hoyt Messerer Fitness Center, a place where student-athletes and members of the Augsburg community build their physical strength.

The fitness center was basically doubled in size during two separate expansions in the 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. Former offices and a small locker room was gutted to make way for the second expansion.

Following the 2006 Kennedy Center addition project, the Hoyt Messerer Fitness Center 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, adjacent to the Hoyt Messerer Fitness Center.

With the addition of the second fitness center in 2006, the Hoyt Messerer Fitness Center was converted to be primarily a weight-training facility. However, there is aerobic equipment -- Stairmasters, exercise bikes and treadmills -- on the north end of the facility.

In the center of the fitness center is a Nautilus-style machine, along with free weights for deadlifts and leg machines. On the south side is extensive free-weight equipment, with numerous bench press, leg press and leg extension stations. A back and neck weight-training machine is also on the south end.

The Messerer Fitness Center was dedicated in June 2001 for Hoyt Messerer '39, an Augsburg alumnus who was one of four founders of the Alumni A-Club in 1937, while he was still a student-athlete on the football, basketball and baseball teams. Messerer and his wife Lucille Messerer were loyal supporters of Augsburg, endowing numerous scholarships and helping to support the college's athletic department.

The fitness facilities are open and free for use by all Augsburg students, faculty, staff and alumni.