Of the approximately 4,000 students at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., assistant athletics director for recreational services Scott Lotze estimates that 70% utilize the recreation center. With so many students creating a bustling facility, Bucknell requires equipment that can withstand heavy usage with minimal downtime.
During a summer 2026 equipment refresh, Lotze prioritized resiliency and ease of maintenance when he selected Matrix Fitness as the department’s strength and cardio equipment supplier.
“We wanted high-performing, reliable equipment. We felt that by partnering with Matrix, it allowed us to hit those goals and completely reimagine our floor plan,” says Lotze, now in his eighth year at Bucknell. “We brought in a cohesive premium line of equipment that we feel inspires student engagement.”
Central to spurring that engagement is the branding present on every piece of new equipment. “Customizing the equipment with our school colors and logos turned a standard weight room into a showcase facility,” he says. “It reinforces our identity the moment a current student or prospective student walks through our doors, because we want to shout ‘Bucknell’ from the rooftops.”
Bucknell selected Matrix Total Body Cycles, Rowers, Performance Treadmills, ClimbMills and various Ultra and Versa Series selectorized units to carry the Bucknell brand.
“[The feedback] has been really overwhelming,” says Lotze, adding, “The students immediately noticed how sleek and unified all the branding looks, especially with the new layout that we have. They love the modern feel and that custom campus branding. It really gives the facility a high-end atmosphere that makes students excited to show up and train. It’s been really well received.”
Along with a focus on branding and student engagement, Lotze also wanted to reduce downtime when a machine malfunctions and ensure that the equipment in the rec center could withstand frequent usage. Matrix proved to be the perfect partner for that goal, too.
“Matrix equipment is really built with operational longevity and ease of service in mind,” he says. “They have an app that allows customers to track shipments when they submit a ticket in real time. The app gives you an idea of when things are going to be arriving, when an internal service provider is going to fix whatever machine may be down.”
Lotze went the extra mile to ensure the equipment in his facility will operate in peak condition. He traveled to Matrix Fitness’ North America headquarters in Cottage Grove, Wis., to attend a two-day service training.
“I gained in-depth, hands-on technical knowledge from their experts over the course of two days and learned the ins and outs of troubleshooting both cardio and strength machines,” explains Lotze, noting that with this new knowledge, he is better equipped to submit service tickets and assist in the repair and maintenance of his facility’s Matrix equipment.
“It’s really important that we can maintain the machines in-house and minimize the operational downtime,” he says, “so we can keep our facility running at peak performance.”
With the fall semester in full swing, and the recreation center supporting Bucknell’s active student body, Lotze has enjoyed seeing the new products in action and feels assured he made the right call in choosing Matrix to outfit the space, stating, “Working with Matrix felt like a true collaborative partnership rather than a standard vendor transaction.”