The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh today will open a 15,000-square-foot state-of-the-art health club in the lower concourse of the U.S. Steel Tower.

The new facility, developed in partnership with the UPMC Health Plan, will offer counseling on nutrition, obesity, smoking cessation, weight management, physical therapy, pre- and post-natal programming and cardiac rehabilitation in addition to the usual exercise classes.

"This partnership with the YMCA is another example of our strong commitment to community wellness," said Diane Holder, president of the UPMC Health Plan.

"Our U.S. Steel Tower facility enables us to serve more people, offer more programs for individuals and families to attain their wellness goals, host educational series, and reach the Downtown work force in bigger and better ways," said Eric Mann, chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

The building in which the Downtown YMCA currently is located has been sold to Point Park University, but the gymnasium there will remain open until the renovation of the YMCA at Market Square, expected to be finished early next year, is completed.

The new Y is designed with the needs of busy corporate personnel in mind. It's heavy on state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment, including Adaptive Motion Trainers, which better simulate running than elliptical machines do.

Aside from a few dumbbells and a couple of Precor machines, there isn't much to attract the person whose favorite form of exercise is lifting weights.

"You won't see a lot of free weights," said John Cardone, Downtown branch executive. "We're more about core stability exercises."

But Kinesis, a flat piece of furniture 25 feet long and 8 feet high with four workout stations called "modules," could prove popular. Designed by Technogym, Kinesis offers a much wider range of motion than older resistance machines, and can improve flexibility and balance as well as strength.

"Instead of the body following the machine, Kinesis follows the body, allowing for free range of motion with no compromise to the resistance load," said Dorothy Sager, an executive at Technogym's headquarters in Seattle.

More than 250 exercises can be performed on the Kinesis modules. Its manufacturers say you'll burn 30 percent more calories in a Kinesis workout than in a conventional workout.

There are three classrooms at the new Steel Tower YMCA. One is set up for spinning, a second for traditional classes such as step aerobics and cardio kickboxing, the third for yoga, Pilates and other "mind-body" classes. Classes also will be offered in how to use the Kinesis machines.

Classes will be offered from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The cost to join ranges from $36 a month for teens and college students, to $62 a month. Adults with incomes below $35,000 a year can join for $39 a month. The higher fee permits the member to use any Y in the greater Pittsburgh area.

Mr. Cardone said he expects a thousand people to sign up for the U.S. Steel Tower YMCA by the end of the year but added that the facility could accommodate more members.