The Collegeís Armington Physical Education Center has been an eye-sore for students and faculty alike for many years.† Finally, the College has decided to do something about it.
The renovations on the PEC, which began shortly before spring break, are expected to last over two years.† The first phase of this project will be completed in January 2012, if all goes according to plan.
The new PEC will be 123,000 square feet and will include many new additions.† These include four intramural courts for basketball surrounded by an NCAA regulation 200 meter indoor running track as well as tennis and volleyball courts.† Our tennis teams will no longer need to go off campus in order to train during bad weather.† Also, bad weather will not be an issue for baseball anymore as there will be indoor batting cages and other equipment meant for indoor practice. An indoor long jump, triple jump and pole vault will also be added for athletes.
Any student, staff or faculty member who uses the weight room facilities, may wonder when and if new equipment will be provided.† While the current machines we have were kindly donated to the College, it is time for new equipment to take their places.† Athletic Director Keith Beckett said that the College will receive new equipment but that it ìremains to be determined” what kinds of new machines the College will receive.† According to the link on the Wooster website some of the new machines will include circuit training stations, elliptical and running machines, rowing machines (which would be a new type of machine) and free weights.
New locker rooms, as well as new athletic department offices and meeting rooms will also come from these renovations.† Currently the Holden Annex is serving as offices and meeting rooms for most coaches and departments.
As a junior I have been able to enjoy the newly renovated Kauke hall, seen Gault dormitory built, suffered the noise of the Babcock renovations, and witnessed the surprise of the ìnew” Lowry.† However, during all that time nothing was done to the PEC. Beckett said that ìconversations and needs assessments have been reviewed and identified in varying degrees for the past 20 years.”† The reason for beginning the renovations now is ìa result of ongoing planning, discussion, assessment, confirmed need and formal board of trustees approval.” As soon as approval was granted, the campus was informed of the upcoming renovations just days before they began.
There are a number of positive elements of Wooster for a prospective student to be attracted to: our professors, our up-to-date classrooms, impressive libraries, science labs, athletics, clubs, etc. However, our PEC was not one of the elements that attracted outsiders.† For a number of years our dilapidated PEC has been thought to be such a disgrace that it turned away prospective students interested in athletics.† Beckett said that ìthat position was shared by recruited students and coaches that were involved in recruiting as an area lacking for the College in comparison to some of our competitors.”† Hopefully, the prospect of a new PEC will entice students to choose Wooster as well as to keep them coming for years past the renovationís completion.
As much of campus has now noticed, the main entrance to the PEC is closed and instead students must use the north entrance.† As of now how this construction will affect student life (athletic and non athletic) remains to be determined.† Beckett noted that ìmodifications and schedule adjustments will be necessary” in order to accommodate all those wishing to use the facilities.
While the new PEC will hopefully draw more attention to Wooster and provide a better athletic experience to students, faculty and staff, it is in no way meant to place more emphasis on athletics.† Beckett stated that ìthe center is a campus center that will provide opportunities for recreation, fitness, intramurals, clubs, activity classes, athletics and more.”
For more information on the renovations of the PEC please consult the Wooster website www.wooster.edu/en/Athletics/Athletic_Facilities/rec_center where digital photos of the outcome of the PEC are available as well as a list of changes which will be made.