Trustees Approve Academic, Athletic Facility Projects
A new gymnasium/convocation center, renovations to the Hogan Center
and a series of academic space improvements — projects totaling $18.75
million — may soon be on the horizon at Alma College.
Alma College trustees, meeting Feb. 2, authorized the College to
proceed with project planning and the hiring of architectural and
engineering services for the new construction and renovation projects.
The Board also approved a declaration of intent to borrow up to $13
million for the campus projects and authorized the raising of $9
million in private donations.
The proposed facility improvements address both academic and athletic needs:
• academic space improvements totaling $4.5 million will include the
development of high tech classrooms and music practice rooms, the
renovation of office space in the lower level of the Library, and
yet-to-be-identified improvements to other high-priority academic
spaces in the Swanson Academic Center, Dow Science Center and Kapp
Science Laboratory Center;
A conceptual rendering shows the proposed new gymnasium/convocation center as one looks east from McIntyre Mall, with the existing Hogan Center on the left and the Heritage Center on the right.
•
renovations to the Hogan Center totaling $12.65 million include the
construction of a new intercollegiate athletics gymnasium/convocation
center that will provide a new home court for the varsity men’s and
women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams and will serve as the
primary venue for commencement, convocations, major speakers, concerts
and other campus events;
• student life and administrative facility improvements totaling $1.6
million will support upgrades to the Reid-Knox Administration Building,
Student Services Center, residence halls and Wilcox Medical Center and
provide accessibility enhancements.
“First and foremost, the purpose of improving the College’s physical
facilities is to support and enhance the student experience at Alma,”
said Alma College President Saundra Tracy. “Each component of our
facilities plan is important in providing learning and co-curricular
environments that will ensure the success of our students.”
Construction of the new gymnasium/convocation center will begin when
planning is complete and $3 million for the new construction has been
raised in fund raising, said Tracy.
“A significant portion of these facility improvements will be funded by
our donors, who expressed support for the new gymnasium/convocation
center in a feasibility study the College conducted last fall,” said
Tracy. “Borrowing allows us to begin construction earlier while we
proceed with fund-raising efforts. We are fortunate to have the ability
to borrow dollars now to support these projects. We have a
significantly low debt load compared to many of our peer institutions.
“The biggest element in this plan is the renovation and expansion of
the Hogan Center. The new gymnasium will provide a competitive
collegiate-level athletic facility and allow Cappaert Gymnasium to
become an alternative location for varsity sport practices,” she said.
Conceptual rendering of the interior of the proposed new gymnasium/convocation center.
The Hogan Physical Education Center, now Hogan Center,
was constructed in 1969 when there were eight varsity athletic teams,
all male. Since then, the numbers of students using the facility has
greatly increased and the growth of women’s athletics has soared. Alma
now has 18 varsity teams.
“We want to construct a gymnasium that provides a competitive
environment for a Division III athletic program, both for our
student-athletes and our spectators,” said Tracy. “We anticipate, for
example, a facility that features some seats with backs and a large
ceiling-mounted scoreboard at center court. We also want to make sure
the new facility is not just a basketball space but a venue appropriate
for commencement, convocations and other major events.”
Preliminary plans call for the new gymnasium, entrance corridor and
lobby to be constructed as an addition to the Hogan Center on the
building’s southeast corner.
The recommendation to renovate Hogan and construct a new gymnasium was
submitted by the Hogan Task Force, a group consisting of Alma trustees,
faculty, staff, coaches and alumni. President Tracy convened the group
in 2007 to identify the strategic needs of the athletics program in
consideration of intercollegiate athletic competition, student
recruitment and retention.
“Athletics has always been a major part of the Alma College
experience,” said Greg Hatcher, a 1983 Alma College graduate who served
on the Task Force. “Having facilities that are nationally competitive
will allow Alma to continue to attract the best and brightest students.
With more than 40 percent of Alma’s current freshman class
participating in a varsity sport, building a state-of-the-art facility
just makes sense. In addition, the gymnasium will be a showpiece at
graduation and other special events.”
“What's exciting about the facilities’ plan is that we can begin to
address not only critical academic space needs but also the needs of
our athletics program,” said Karen Ball, a former student-athlete, 1987
graduate, current faculty member, and Task Force member. “With
intercollegiate athletics playing such a major role in the lives of so
many of our students, the upgrades to Hogan will really enhance that
experience for our student-athletes.”
In addition to the new gymnasium, other proposed renovations to the
Hogan Center include significant improvements to the pool in McClure
Natatorium, which is used by community youth as well as adults for
rehabilitative and aquatic exercise; locker room renovations; and
redesigned space for the nationally accredited Athletic Training
Program.
Posted: Mon, February 4th, 2008 at 4:53PM
