Special Calvin Sports Report (Calvin Annouces Major Expansion Project)

CALVIN SPECIAL SPORTS REPORT FOR OCTOBER 13, 2006

CALVIN COLLEGE ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION PROJECT

Calvin College is planning a major expansion of its physical education and
athletic facilities, the biggest building project in school history.

The expansion, which has been a topic of discussion at Calvin for close to a
decade, was approved this past weekend by the college's 31-member Board of
Trustees. Calvin hopes to break ground on these projects in spring 2007
(assuming the necessary zoning approvals are granted) and anticipates beginning
to use the facilities in fall 2008.

Calvin professor Glen VanAndel is the former chair of the HPERDS department
(health, physical education, recreation, dance and sport) at Calvin and
co-chaired the committee that planned the $35 million expansion project.

He says the new buildings and renovations will come not a moment too soon for
the department, which has grown to almost 200 students who are HPERDS majors
and minors (in such areas as exercise science, sports management, therapeutic
recreation, dance and more).

In addition the department runs a very popular intramurals program which last
year saw 2,644 participants and an extensive athletic program which last year
was home to 461 athletes who competed in 17 varsity sports, five junior varsity
sports and three club sports.

"The present building was not designed to accommodate the number of students,
faculty and academic programs we currently support," he says. "The new and
renovated facilities will provide a quality educational environment where
students and faculty can develop their knowledge and skills in health
education, exercise science, teacher education, sports management and
recreation leadership."

To meet the needs of the entire Calvin community the upcoming expansion
features a five-pronged plan, including:

1) a new arena
2) a new indoor track and tennis center
3) a new aquatics center, featuring a 50-meter by 25-yard pool
4) a new student health center
5) a significant renovation of the current Calvin Fieldhouse, resulting in a
new health and recreation center

Much of the money has been raised already to fund the entire complex, but
Calvin officials declined to name donors at this date, noting that some of the
donors are not yet ready for their names to be made public. Calvin plans to
release the names of the major donors to the project later in the year.

The centerpiece of the newly approved project will be a new arena, tentatively
set for a seating capacity of 5,000. It will measure some 175,000 square feet
and will replace the Calvin Fieldhouse, which was built in 1965, as the
homecourt for the school's Division III men's and women's basketball teams and
women's volleyball team. That arena will be located almost directly east of
the current fieldhouse on what is currently a small, multi-use athletic field
(the location was chosen to minimize intrusion into a diverse woodlot that sits
north and east of the current Calvin Fieldhouse).

For the full story see www.calvin.edu/news
For a full-sized image of the project please contact Phil de Haan at 526-6475
or dehp@calvin.edu

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Oct 13 10:41:00 2006