The Chick Evans Field House is getting a makeover – but not on the surface.

This makeover is on the inside: More than 6,000 seats and bleachers are gone, and so is the basketball court. “Right now, it looks like an airport hangar,” Campus Recreation Director John Sweeney said.

By the end of the year, students will have access to more basketball courts, indoor soccer fields, floor hockey rinks and a new cardio-fitness center in the remodeled fieldhouse, Sweeney said.

“We’re going to have two soccer pitches and one for floor hockey, which will free up four more basketball courts at the Rec Center. We will have more space for group rentals and be able to accommodate practice time for NIU club sports as well. This will be a significant improvement. We’re hopeful for a summer open … by fall for sure,” Sweeney said.

On Tuesday, the Office of Campus Recreation was granted an additional $25,490 from the Student Association Finance Committee to go toward the fieldhouse addition. This money will help pay for additional staffing, equipment and pay increases because of the minimum wage hike. This figure also factors in next year’s projected minimum wage increase to $6.50.

About $2.5 million was budgeted for the renovation of the fieldhouse, Sweeney said. He said the project currently is within that budget.

Once the renovation of the fieldhouse is complete, more student jobs will become available.

“We will add additional student staff, but students will be cross-trained to work at the fieldhouse as well,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney said record-breaking numbers of students using the Rec assure that the fieldhouse addition will be positive.