HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The University of Alabama in Huntsville hopes to grow in leaps, bounds and even jumps with a new three-part facilities project recently approved by the UA System Board of Trustees.
On Thursday, UAH announced that the UA System Board of Trustees approved plans for three “major facilities projects” in the April 4 board meeting.
Among the projects, two centered around sports and recreation on campus.
The Board additionally advanced one project— the new UAH Track and Field Complex— and approved initial plans for the reconfiguration of the University Fitness Center.
For the Track and Field Complex, the Board granted Stage III approval, in which the architectural designs were approved.
For this complex, Chapman Sisson Architects’ designs were approved.
In Stage III approval, UAH can now go forward with advertising and bidding the project and plans to seek Board approval of the construction contract at a Board meeting in the future.
Stages I and II were approved by the Board in September 2023, with Stage II being revised and approved in November 2024.
The Track and Field Complex will transform a field and parking lot on the west side of John Wright Drive, across from Charger Park, into UAH’s first on-campus track.
UAH Director of Athletics Dr. Cade Smith expects the complex to strengthen an already outstanding program.
“Our track and field program has had a great deal of success under Coach David Cain’s leadership… including the recent Gulf South Conference Indoor Championship for our men and strong national finishes and multiple All-Americans at the NCAA Championships. All of this has been accomplished without an on-campus track and field facility,” Smith said.
The project will also provide UAH the opportunity to host on-campus sporting events, including Gulf South Conference and Division II championship meets.
Along with an NCAA-compliant, 400-meter, 8-lane running track with a high-performance surface designed for shock absorption, the project will include jumping, vaulting and throwing event venues. The complex will also feature the following amenities:
- Entry plaza
- Parking area for visiting teams and officials
- Press box with a 500-seat main section of bleachers
- Home and visiting team locker rooms
- Concessions
- Field house with equipment storage
The project will be delivered in packages to provide flexibility in scheduling as funding becomes available. The budget for the project is $14,210,602.
Onto the University Fitness Center, the Board approved Stages I and II at the April 4 meeting. They approved the preliminary project scope and budget and enabling UAH to contract with Chapman Sisson Architects to design and administer the project. The project has a budget of $1.2 million.
The UFC, located at 500 John Wright Drive, was listed as a top priority for improvement in the FY2025 UAH Annual Consolidated Capital Projects and Facilities Report. The 2024 UAH Campus Master Plan had already identified the need to update aging facilities and infrastructure to current campus standards.
“We are very excited about this project,” Dr. Ronnie Hebert, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said. “The University Fitness Center has served thousands of students, faculty, staff and community members each year since opening in 2001.”
The upgrades to the UFC are expected to be completed in late 2026, pending further Board approvals.
You can read more about the approved projects on UAH’s website here.
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