Wayne State College Breaks Ground on Athletic and Recreation Complex
The multi-phased project, designed in collaboration with RDG, will positively impact the College's intercollegiate athletics, recreation and student-wide wellness programs.
Wayne State College has officially broke ground on its athletic and recreation complex renovation and addition project. The groundbreaking ceremony, which took place on Friday, September 15, 2023, was attended by representatives from the College, the Wayne State Foundation and the Nebraska State College System, as well as students, alumni and members of the RDG Planning & Design team.
“This transformational facility construction and renovation project will be incredibly impactful on Wayne State College's intercollegiate athletics, recreation and student-wide wellness programs,” said Mike Powicki, athletic director at Wayne State. “These are historic improvements which are vital in our ability to continue to recruit and retain phenomenal students by providing an exceptional overall student engagement experience.”
Located on the prominent northwest corner of campus the multi-phased project will have a significant impact on Wayne State and the region it serves. RDG’s design for the addition creates a 97,000-SF air-supported structure with an indoor track and turf field and a 17,000-SF open-air alley space that can be used for pre-event waiting, social gatherings and study space, and creates a new student weight room. Designs for the Recreation Center renovation increase the number of multi-sport courts, create a walking and jogging track as well as areas for strength and fitness, and group exercise and expand locker room, office and classroom space. Once complete, the project will further enhance Wayne State’s efforts to recruit and retain students and elevate the College’s overall student engagement and fan experiences.
“This project is the continuation of RDG’s long-standing relationship with Wayne State College. We are honored to partner with them to create an environment that serves the functional needs of Wayne State's recreation and athletic programs and enriches the student experience in new and exciting ways. It’s not just an investment in brick and mortar – it's an investment in the future of the students and the entire Wayne State community,” said RDG Architect and Senior Partner, Tom Ohle, AIA.
The $30 million phased project is being funded in part by the Wayne State Foundation, which has begun the process of raising the $5.5 million of fundraised dollars needed to complete the renovation and addition. The project has set an initial completion date of Fall 2024. RDG is providing architecture, landscape architecture, lighting design, interior design and graphic design services in collaboration with the construction manager Hausmann Construction.