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"We’re right on time," he said recently. "The target date for completion that was set along with our budget projections are coming along perfectly. We should be ready to open the new facilities by the end of January which is exactly what we had hoped for."
The addition will feature a total gross building area of nearly 55,000 square feet and will maximize program space by achieving a simple, functional and attractive design. The renovation is part of an ongoing $300 million Master Plan that will take many of the school’s historic building into the 21st century.
The renamed Spurrier-Snyder Rink, in honor of men’s ice hockey coaches Bill Spurrier and "Duke" Snyder, was recently given a major upgrade and was the first part of the new center to be unveiled to the public. The redesign now features a new entrance for the Zamboni machine that will prevent the dumping of ice behind Freeman.
The original building, built in 1990 at a cost of roughly $22 million, will soon house eight international squash courts, a 7,500-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with 12 luxury locker rooms along with the centerpiece of the expansion, a premier Division III basketball gymnasium with seating for nearly 1,200.Athletic staff personnel will also be the recipients of new meeting rooms and offices.
"The floors for the squash courts, fitness center and the new gym are being laid as we speak," Biddiscombe stated. "Following that, the seating area will be installed. We’ve decided to go with "stadium seating", in which all seats will have backs and will essentially give Wesleyan University one of the most beautiful athletic facilities in Division III."
Biddiscombe commented that naming rights for all venues will take place after the construction is completed.
"We couldn’t have done this without the support, both monetary and otherwise, of our boosters and alumni," he said. "The naming rights will be decided upon in the future but will take place based on the contributions and donations of our supporters."
The timing of the completion will coincide with the NESCAC portion of both the men’s and women’s basketball squads. Both clubs are currently playing its contests at the Alumni Athletic building, a facility that will become the site for a new Student Center in the next round of many future Wesleyan upgrades.
The current Master Plan proposes that the new Suzanne Lemberg Usdan University Center to be centrally located in the area of "the cage", Fayerweather Gymnasium and the now-defunct squash court building on Wyllys Avenue.
Construction of the Freeman project is being completed by Konover Construction with local architects Moser, Pilon and Nelson overseeing all.
"I hope that when its completed," Biddiscombe said, "Freeman will attract a number of sports fans statewide to come and view either basketball or hockey in a state-of-the-art facility."
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Sean P. Reilly can be reached at sreilly@middletownpress.com or at 860-347-3331 ext. 217.
