Fieldhouse gets in shape

By Kartikay Mehrotra

The revamped Chick Evans Field House will officially reopen to students, faculty and staff in August, although several summer camps are already using the new facility.

The former home of many Huskies athletics now will serve as an extension to the Student Recreation Center.

“It’s been totally gutted inside and out,” said Dave Lochbaum, facilities coordinator for the Office of Campus Recreation. “It looks like a new facility.”

As construction is completed during the summer, the fieldhouse is being used for overspill from various camps held on campus.

The interior reconstruction, which cost about $2.5 million, includes four inches of asphalt covered with a synthetic rubber surface.

Two basketball courts surrounded by 15 feet of netting, like those in the Rec Center, have been added.

Two boarded rinks that will accommodate both indoor soccer and floor hockey are beyond the basketball courts.

The facility will open space during intramurals to relieve congestion at the Rec Center, said John Sweeney, director of campus recreation.

“Where you saw a lot of pick-up basketball at the Rec Center, we’re hoping to see a lot more pick-up soccer and floor hockey,” Sweeney said. “It’s basically like adding 80,000 square feet of play space.”

Basketball and volleyball intramurals will stay at the current Rec Center, while the fieldhouse will be open for other recreation.

The fieldhouse also has a new cardiovascular room and two aerobics rooms.

The new facility will house ROTC offices as well as satellite offices for building services and the department of kinesiology and physical education.

The new facility brings more space and opportunity to clubs and organizations that need the room, Sweeney said.

The main entrance will be on the south east corner of the building, across from åGabel and Graham halls. Hours are tentatively set to be 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The official reopening is scheduled for September.