A master plan of the proposed ALLWELL center was introduced to the Student Senate on October 8. The ALLWELL center will be a replacement for PSU’s existing athletic building.
If the plans for the center are approved, it will be scheduled to be finished by 2018.
“A new facility will allow us to grow and develop new programs,” said Bill Crangle, Vice President of Financial Affairs. The existing field house was built in 1969. Since then, it has become apparent that the existing PE department building is no longer viable today.
The current PE building was built in 1969. It was originally built as both an athletic and academic building. By 1992 it was recommended that the existing athletic facility be replaced. The Health and Human Performance (HHP) program had to move to the Draper and Maynard building in 1995 due to lack of space.
The HHP department has over 400 students; many require direct contact with PSU student athletes and the athletic center. There is not enough room in the PE center to support this hands on experience, creating an inconvenience for many involved in HHP programs.
In 2004, a replacement for the current PE building became a priority. $600,000 was allocated for designs for a new PE Center. Planning for the ALLWELL Center began over a year ago. The master plan calls for academic and athletics in one site.
When completed, it is expected that the ALLWELL Center will create a better sense of unity on campus. A new ice arena is being planned for phase one. Plymouth is hoping for community cooperation in the development of the ice arena.
A new aquatic center with a NCAA approved pool, a field house gym, two turf fields for football and lacrosse and room for classrooms, labs and club sports are all part of the design.
There will be major changes to the campus with the completion of ALLWELL. The building will be closer to the main part of campus, and if completed as planned, a parking lot as well as some homes may be raised. As of yet, there are no plans in the works regarding the possible purchase of non-University property along the river. The ALLWELL Center will not be affected by the flood planes, which, in past years have posed a problem for the PE Center.
The ALLWELL Center is expected to be complete in five stages. The first stage of ALLWELL is expected to be complete, if approved, by 2010. ALLWELL South, as it is currently called will include an ice rink. It will be located along route 175A. It will be 56,000 gross square feet with a projected cost of $12 million.
ALLWELL North will include a fieldhouse built on stilts to combat flooding, and an athletic field. The building is expected to be 58,000 gsf and will include parking. The cost is projected at $28 million. The estimated date of completion is 2012.
ALLWELL West is expected to be complete in 2014. This phase will include the aquatic center. Some flood mitigation will be required prior to the completion of this phase. ALLWELL West will include a lecture hall, a pool, climbing wall and a racquetball court. The pool area will also serve as a wet classroom, meaning classes can be held in the area. A multipurpose room and labs as well as administration offices will be on an upper floor. The cost of this phase is projected at $31 million. Half of the existing field house will be removed for completion of this phase.
The final phase is expected to be finished in 2016. This will be the largest portion of the project, and it is estimated that it will add an additional 110,000gsf and cost $34 million. The second half of the existing field house will be removed. A gymnasium will be built with adequate room for a basketball court and volleyball court with seating for up to 1500 people. A wrestling and fitness area will also be built. This phase will be closer to the river than the other phases. A riverside park may also be built, complete with walking trails, open lawn and a ropes course.
An increase in tuition is not expected to help fund this project, however student fees may be increased.
“The project was designed in phases for funding issues,” said Crangle, who will be retiring at the end of the year. He was not involved in the original plans set forth in 1992, but has been active in the program for the past year. He will remain around campus for another three years, keeping an eye on the development of the project.
The ALLWELL Center will also create employment for students.
“The ice arena will need two full time workers, and a lot of hourly staff,” said Provost Julie Bernier, “There will be a lot of student labor.” Both hourly and event staff will be in higher demand. When asked if she believes the completion of the ALLWELLL center will bring more students from the main part of campus across the river, Bernier said, “Just the ice arena alone will likely bring more students across the river.”
With the new programs that are expected to be introduced with the ALLWELL Center, there are still no plans in the works for a track or cross-country team on campus.
The new programs expected to premier with the completion of the ALLWELL Center. It’s just a pity students have to wait until 2018 to see the finished product.