Anticipation



Health and Fitness Education Center entry level

Many people are watching the progress of the Health and Fitness Education Center with great interest. In the past month there have been more than 2,000 visitors to the live construction webcam (500 alone from on campus.)

“So, when I look at the live construction, what am I seeing?” Funny you should ask.

The steel support beams are along the north and west walls of the performance arena, i.e. the gym. The wall angling off the west arena wall is the north edge of the multi-purpose facilities; walkways, multi-purpose rooms, Hall of Fame area, concession area, rest rooms, etc.

The weights and fitness center, for use by all students, will be located on the Marbeck (south) side of the building.

According to Kevin Nickel, vice president for fiscal affairs, the project is on schedule. He also provided a few fun facts…

“There will be about 500,000 lbs of steel in the building. The vertical support columns are about 7,000 lbs each. The trusses are 25,000 lbs each. About 1,100 yards of concrete have been poured to form the walls. The elevator shaft now stands at 34 feet and will be completed once the third floor is poured.”
 
There are probably few groups watching the construction with greater anticipation than the men’s and women’s basketball coaches and student-athletes. From the beginning the hope has been that the building would be open for the 2012-13 basketball seasons.

MCB (Marbeck Center Board) will kick off the 2011-12 basketball season with their annual Midnight Madness festivities Sunday at 10 p.m. with contests, faculty/staff vs. students game, refreshments and, of course, an appearance by J. Denny Beaver.

Not that we’re looking past the final weekend of fall sports of course, as the football team travels to Defiance and cross-country competes in NCAA regionals at Oberlin.

Go Beavers!