With a dozen shovels in the ground, Grand Rapids'
Aquinas College faculty, donors, and students broke ground last week for the final phase of its $14 million athletic complex while nearly 500 student athletes looked on. The Alksnis Athletics & Recreation Building at 1580 Fulton St. SE will complete the sports and recreation project begun with the opening of the $7 million Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center, which opened in November 2010.
The 70,000-square-foot Alksnis Athletics & Recreation Building, named for lead donors Greg (AQ '71) and Sally Alksnis, will provide Aquinas students the space and facilities needed for intramural and junior varsity athletics: a 200-meter NCAA-certified track, a turf infield, portable courts, practice areas for baseball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse, and an extensive curtaining system that will allow multiple activities simultaneously.
Athletic Director Terry "Bo" Bocian said at the groundbreaking ceremony, "For the last three years, our teams have had to go off-campus to practice. No one in the league or any other small college will have a building like this. This building will be a showcase and make a statement for Aquinas."
In addition to offering an increase in athletic opportunities for students, the Alksnis Building will create an inviting new Fulton Street gateway to the campus and its expanses of woods, green spaces, modern eco-friendly learning environments, and turn-of-the-century academic buildings.
Slated completion date: August 2014.
Construction:
Rockford Construction
Architect:
Integrated Architecture
Writer, photographer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
Renderings courtesy of Aquinas College
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