Ground Breaking for New Hogan Arena Set for May 1
Construction of a LEED-certified basketball arena/convocation center
at Alma College begins this spring with a groundbreaking ceremony
scheduled for noon Friday, May 1.
Following the groundbreaking, construction will continue through
multiple phases, culminating in a 29,000-square-foot addition to the
Hogan Center, the existing athletics building, along with renovated
locker rooms, athletic training space, natatorium, coaches offices and
classrooms.
The $12.65 million project will provide a new home court for the men’s
and women’s basketball teams and women’s volleyball team as well as a
primary venue for commencement, convocations, major speakers, concerts
and other campus events.
An artist's rendering of the Hogan project.
The
estimated completion date for the arena/convocation center is August
2010. The project is funded by a combination of gifts and the sale of
tax-exempt bonds.
“The new addition to the Hogan facility is designed to be Alma
College’s first LEED-certified building, the nationally recognized mark
of sustainable construction,” says Alma College President Saundra
Tracy. “The renovations also will tremendously enhance the
sustainability of the overall facility. This is one of several
ways Alma College is carrying out its mission to be ‘stewards of a
world we bequeath to future generations.’”
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building
Rating System is a third-party certification program and the nationally
accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high
performance green buildings. LEED certification verifies that a
building project is environmentally responsible and healthy place to
live and work.
Sustainable components of the new facility will include use of recycled
content in ceiling panels, carpet, rubber and vinyl floor tiles,
bleacher construction and sub-floor system in the new arena; light
pollution reduction; water efficient landscaping; maximized energy
performance; water use reduction measures; and energy star compliant
roof system.
“The Hogan Center is one of the Alma facilities that is extensively
used by the local community,” says Tracy. “ These include the local
swim teams, senior citizens aquatic rehabilitation groups, racquetball
enthusiasts and the many individuals who attend athletic and major
College events in the facility.”
The new arena will seat 2,430, with additional floor seating of 600 for
non-athletics events. The new facility will be handicap accessible,
with a ground-level entrance, new elevator, and 6,600 square-foot lobby
with new concession stand and restroom facilities. The basketball court
will feature a four-sided, ceiling-hung scoreboard over center court,
floor-mounted basketball goal supports, and theatre-style seating on
the “home” side of the court.
“For our student-athletes, the new facility will be an amazing leap
forward,” says Athletic Director John Leister. “Many of our sister
schools in the MIAA have built new facilities. Now our students, who
are proud to represent Alma on the court and who work hard, will have a
type of facility they deserve.
“For the College as a whole, we’re building a facility that will house
many other events beyond athletics for the campus and community,” says
Leister. “Its exciting for everyone.”
Interior work began March 16 for renovations to the ground-level
locker rooms used by the football team, enhanced space for the athletic
training program, and retrofitting existing space for new laundry and
equipment rooms for the athletics department.
On April 20, coaches and staff vacated the Hogan Center for
temporary office space in the Stone Recreation Center as a construction
fence was installed around the worksite. From May through August,
crews will renovate the second floor classrooms and coaches offices
with new ceiling, carpeting, furniture and air conditioning.
Work will continue in 2010 with renovations to the pool, locker rooms
and second-floor lobby along with the conversion of Cappaert Gymnasium
to a practice gymnasium.
The construction will result in the loss of 56 existing parking spaces,
including the angled visitor’s parking in front of Hogan, spots from
the north end of the Heritage Center lot, and spots along Grant Street.
To compensate, the College will replace these 56 spaces along Grant
Street north of the construction site and on the east side of the
railroad tracks near the College’s Physical Plant. Also, an additional
15 spots for student parking will be added to Lot 15 south of Superior
Street.
Posted: Fri, April 24th, 2009 at 9:18AM
