¶¶Òô»ÆƬapp plans a $4.7 million addition to the Athletic Center, adjacent to the campus' football stadium, as part of its commitment of the University's athletics programs. The Athletic Center will contain 51,945 square feet.
The University hopes to begin construction in March 1997.
The Athletic Center will enable Fairfield to centralize its athletic departments in a single, attractive building that is conveniently adjacent to most of the campus athletic fields. In addition, the transfer of offices from Alumni Hall and the Student Recreational Complex will enable the University to expand and improve the exercise rooms in those two buildings by adding more than 4,000 square feet. "As a result," said Gene Doris, director of athletics, "Fairfield will create an attractive area that will promote the personal fitness of all of our students."
The first floor will contain a state of the art football locker room, a 4,700 square foot weight training center which will surpass any of the facilities of peer institutions and coaches' locker rooms. ¶¶Òô»ÆƬapp initiated a I-AA, non-scholarship football schedule in September.
The new second floor of the Athletic Center will feature a high-tech academic study center with computer terminals, tutorial stations and reference materials for students competing in varsity sports. In addition, the structure will contain a practice facility designed primarily for men's and women's basketball, first-class men's and women's locker rooms, an administrative and coaching office complex and a multi-media recruiting center. This complex will serve as an enhancement for Fairfield's expanded Division I athletic program.
Fairfield competes in 20 varsity sports, having added football, men's lacrosse and three women's sports - soccer, lacrosse and golf in the past five years. A 21st varsity sport, women's crew, will begin in the fall.
Doris said, "The Athletic Center will create a magnificent setting for a solid infrastructure to support all of our Division I programs. The technology used in the construction will be a model for other institutions. The facility will enhance the ability of Fairfield's student-athletes to succeed in both the classroom and in athletic competition."
Posted On: 02-01-1997 09:02 AM
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