Spend an afternoon at the Roche Sports Complex and it’s clear the athletic programs are in desperate need of more space. The men’s basketball team occupies the hardwood court, the football team runs sprints and does plyometrics off to the side, and runners charge around the track dodging shot putters. The baseball, women’s basketball and volleyball teams — as well as non-athletes who want to work out — round out the competition for space.
“Every time we come around the track we have to yell,” freshman runner John Wierenga said. “There have been a couple times where people just got pummeled.”
The college is responding to the high demand for use of the sports complex by planning to build a 75,000-foot track and tennis building. The building, which will include a 200-meter track and four tennis courts will be constructed to the northwest side of the sports complex, next to the baseball field.
For men’s head track and field coach Jeff Forino, the building will alleviate several problems and create more opportunities for one-on-one instruction, recruiting, and fundraising with events like high school track meets.
“It’ll be great,” Forino said. “It’ll mean that we can practice on a regular basis and not try to have to practice with other people standing around. It’ll also increase the safety of the practice.”
Vice President for Administration Rich Péwé said the college originally estimated that the building would cost $5.7 million.
The estimation was a bit low.
“I’d love to keep it under $6 million but it’s probably going to be more than that,” Péwé said.
That money all has to be in the bank before the administration sets a date to break ground.
“A lot of schools get themselves into debt to build facilities,” Péwé said. “We’ve been trying to raise it and get it in hand.”
The college has already purchased steel for the building. Construction should take roughly nine months and Péwé said he wants to see things move forward.
“If we wait too much longer the price will go up,” Péwé said.
The college began conceptualizing and fundraising for the project four years ago. In that time, plans have shifted from the creation of an intramural sports building to a tennis and track building. There are also plans for renovations to the sports complex, and eventually the construction of a turf building.
Péwé feels the current plan will better serve the needs of a larger student body.
“The components of the IM building are in this plan,” Péwé said.
Renovations to the sports complex include the removal of the track, the addition of two basketballs courts and their reorientation to face east and west. The college also plans to add an additional 13,000 to 15,000 feet of space with the creation of a second story mezzanine on the north side of building, which will include fitness equipment, a smoothie bar, additional locker rooms, and possibly a lounge.
“It has the effect of everyone getting what they need from a physical standpoint without compromising their time,” Péwé said.
In the meantime, Péwé said the biggest concern is to balance the site, consider retaining walls, and lay plans for the building in order to optimize space, space that every coach will welcome.
“It’ll be really good for the whole program,” Forino said.
