Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, plans to replace the Reid Athletics Center with a new athletics quadrangle anchored by a new 65,000-square-foot basketball and volleyball arena.
The Rome Daily Sentinel reports that construction of the facility, part of the university’s Third-Century Plan initiatives, is slated to begin in February.
Named the Carey Center in honor of a lead $23 million gift from the Carey family, the new arena will serve as the home for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. The facility is to be the first of two buildings planned for an athletics quadrangle to replace the facilities now housed in the Reid Athletic Center.
Built in 1959 and designed for a student body of 1,500 men, the Reid Athletic Center no longer meets the physical, technological or programmatic standards necessary to support a modern, coeducational, nationally competitive Division I athletics program for Colgate’s 25 varsity teams, the university says.
The Carey Center will have seating capacity of 1,650 and additional standing room. The arena will also feature a practice court; team suites for volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball; the Hall of Honor; media facilities; and a satellite sports medicine, strength, and wellness space.
The two-story venue will occupy the space now held by Colgate’s Facilities Department. The first floor will house the arena court, locker rooms, coaching offices, satellite sports medicine and strength and conditioning spaces, nutritional and wellness space, a media and production studio and other rooms. The second level will include the competition arena concourses along with a practice court, strength and conditioning mezzanine and a recruiting lounge.
The second planned new building, an expected 40,000-square-foot facility, will combine all elements of the football program within one facility and provide additional space for student-athlete support.
