Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., is renovating and expanding campus buildings to create an enhanced recreation and athletic complex.
The university says the $65 million venture is the largest capital project in its history.
The complex will provide students and employees with expanded opportunities to improve physical fitness and mental wellness as well as new spaces for campus events and student gatherings.
Construction, set to begin in early 2023, involves four buildings that total 154,000 square feet:
- Seibert Hall will be completely redesigned to have two basketball courts, a new multiuse court, studios for fitness classes, an eSports studio, dance studios, weight and cardio machines, a multipurpose workout area, lounge areas, a coffee house and a 24-hour convenience store.
- Bashinsky Field House will be fully refurbished and will be a dedicated facility for Samford student-athletes, including new training spaces for teams and dedicated practice spaces for the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs.
- A third building be constructed. It will have 20,000 square feet of recreation and event space, including a suspended indoor track, additional basketball courts and cardio spaces, sound and staging for campus events, a catering kitchen, covered outdoor athletic space, a pedestrian walkway and a covered balcony.
- The first floor of the Dwight and Lucille Beeson Center, directly across the street from the complex, will be renovated to serve as the new home for the university’s health center and counseling services.
The complex is expected to be completed by fall 2024.
The architect is Davis Architects, and the builder is Hoar Construction.
