Last modified: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
IU to dedicate Memorial Stadium's North End Zone Facility in Bloomington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 29, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The new North End Zone Facility at Indiana University's Memorial Stadium in Bloomington will be formally dedicated in a ceremony at the stadium on Friday (Oct. 2) at 2:30 p.m., with IU President Michael A. McRobbie presiding. The ceremony also will rename the new structure the North End Zone Student-Athlete Development Center.
"The North End Zone Student-Athlete Development Center represents a new era of academic and athletic excellence," said Vice President and Director for Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "This facility, in combination with our new 25,800-square-foot Academic Resource Center, which will be completed in early 2010, will transform our athletic complex. With state-of-the-art training and academic support facilities all in one place, IU student-athletes will have the vital resources they need to excel athletically and in the classroom."
The dedication ceremony will feature remarks from Glass, President McRobbie, IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson, IU football head coach Bill Lynch, and Emily Kasavana, an IU senior and member of the IU rowing team. After the remarks, William Browne from RATIO Architects will dedicate the building with assistance from McRobbie and William Cast, president of the Indiana University Board of Trustees.
The public is invited to the dedication ceremony. An informal reception and tours of the building will immediately follow the ceremony.
"This impressive new facility represents Indiana University's strong commitment not just to our football program but to intercollegiate athletics and academic progress at IU," said McRobbie. "From physical training to academic preparation, the North End Zone Student-Athlete Development Center significantly improves the comprehensive support provided by Indiana University to our student-athletes."
Ground was broken for North End Zone Facility in June 2007, and it was completed in August of this year. Leading the architectural planning and design of the facility was RATIO Architects of Indianapolis, assisted by Moody-Nolan, also of Indianapolis. This new 138,000-square-foot facility transforms Memorial Stadium into a horseshoe layout connecting the East and West stands, complete with a new seating bowl, concourse, concession stand and outdoor club area.
"The new North End Zone Facility is a beautiful enhancement to Memorial Stadium," said Hanson. "It's a source of pride for students, for alumni and for the campus. Intercollegiate athletics provides important opportunities for student-athletes to develop character and leadership abilities, and it underscores the importance of teamwork and integrity. This facilities renovation, along with the planned Academic Resource Center, will enhance those opportunities for our student-athletes at IU Bloomington."
Inside the facility are the headquarters for IU football, featuring new staff and administrative offices, position meeting rooms, a team auditorium, and an underground walkway to football practice fields. A key component of the new facility is a 25,000-square-foot strength and conditioning center. As the largest collegiate conditioning center in the country, it is used by 640 student-athletes in all 24 varsity sports.
The North End Zone building is also home to the Henke Hall of Champions, an entertainment space for special events that will feature permanent museum displays celebrating great achievements in the history of IU Athletics.
"All of the components of this much needed facility represent critical resources for recruiting and supporting our student-athletes and coaches," added Glass. "We have a unique opportunity to attract the most talented and brightest student-athletes in the country, and none of this would be possible without the dedication, commitment and generosity of donors to our capital campaign as well as the vision of my predecessor, Rick Greenspan, and former IU President Adam Herbert."
The North End Zone Student-Athlete Development Center is part of the first major comprehensive capital campaign by the IU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. The campaign -- For the Glory of Old IU -- is focused on raising $80 million in private support for new and improved athletic facilities, endowments, and on-going annual support of student-athlete scholarships. To learn more about the campaign or dedication ceremony, please contact the IU Varsity Club at 812-855-0866 or varsity@indiana.edu. More information can also be found on the Capital Campaign Website.
