Construction on the Freeman Athletic Center, which began in November 2003, has been steadily progressing without any major setbacks. The Konover construction team, who won the construction bid last fall, has already erected the steel framework of the structure and is now constructing the exterior walls.
The $13 million project is expected to be completed in the spring semester of 2005.
The new addition will host a new gymnasium with a capacity of 1,000 spectators, a fitness center that will be more than twice the size of the current weight room, a rowing center, additional injury and health rooms and eight international squash courts.
“It was just a couple of beams a few weeks ago and now they’re already putting up the walls,” said Drew Black, men’s wrestling coach and strength and fitness coach. “I think that we’ll be ready to use the fitness center by January 2005, so after winter break.”
In Sept. 2002, Wesleyan hired Moser Pilon Nelson Architects, the same architect of the Middlebury gymnasium, and began the planning process. The design was formulated with the input from an extensive benchmarking expedition that assessed the gymnasiums and athletic facilities of comparable universities. Teams were sent to Amherst, Middlebury, Tufts, Harvard, MIT, St. Lawrence, Trinity and many others to critique their athletic facilities.
“What we found was that many of the facilities were so big that you could get lost in them,” said Joseph Crouse, the project manager. “You didn’t know where you were in the building or where you were walking. The hallways were so dark you felt like you were in a cave.”
To prevent making the same mistake, Wesleyan focused on assuring that the design includes ample lighting, relying heavily on natural lighting when possible. In addition, to ensure that visitors do not feel lost within the facility, event spaces will be visible from the transitional corridors that connect the Hockey rink, the gymnasium, the fitness center, and the squash courts.
“I’m really sad that I won’t be around to take advantage of the additions,” said Alexa Steinberg ’04, a member of Wesleyan’s women’s cross-country team. “It is such a pain to fit in the weight room at 4 p.m. with all the other team sports,”
The fitness center will have new workout equipment, televisions with headsets for viewers, aerobic machines and additional skylights will be built into every event and spectator space. The gymnasium will include window-wall wrapping around the top of the building for extra sunlight and the fitness room will have enormous windows at either end overlooking the track and fields and Warren St. The natural light should significantly reduce the amount of electricity needed to run the facility.
“We wanted to make sure that we had an extremely accessible building,” Crouse said. “There will be an elevator to the fitness center and trainers room, and handicap spaces located outside the [Warren St. entrance].”
A new entrance on Warren St., which Crouse assures he is open to suggestions for another name, will allow the Wesleyan community easy access to the fitness room, squash courts, trainers room and locker rooms. In front of the entrance will be a large brick circle for pick-up and drop-off, however parking will be located at the recently built lot on Pine St. and the new parking lot across from the Freeman Athletic Center main entrance on Cross Street.
“I’m so excited for the gym that I took a year off,” said Murdo McGrath ’05. “[The addition is] not that pretty but it’s a good use of space. I can’t wait.”
Crouse said it is still uncertain whether the basketball teams would be able to start playing in the new facility at the end of next fall.
“If we can get it done, we will,” he said.
Tours of the facility are available by appointment with Crouse and will be scheduled after 3:30 pm, as to avoid the heavy hours of construction work. More information and pictures are available at http://www.wesleyan.edu/masterplan/freeman_detail.ctt.
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