Per The University of Washington Press Release…..
February 13, 2020
SEATTLE – The University of Washington Board of Regents approved athletic department plans Thursday to construct a new Basketball Training & Operations Facility and Health & High Performance Center. The project, which will consist of a new 60-70,000-square-foot building on the current site of the Hec Edmundson Pavilion Pool, as well as a 14,000-square -foot renovation of the weight room and Husky Legends Center inside the Graves Annex Building, will now move on to the selection of a design builder and architect with design plans to follow. The project will be funded entirely by donations to the athletic department.
“We couldn’t be more excited to move forward with the plans for these facilities,” said Jennifer Cohen, Director of Athletics. “The Health and High Performance Center will support the development, health and well-being of our students now and for years to come, which is central to our mission. The Basketball Training and Operations Facility will provide our teams with much needed practice and community spaces, and is an important investment for the future success of both programs.”
Construction on the venue, which has a projected budget of $60.5 million, is scheduled to get underway in 2021 with completion slated for 2023. Today’s board approval also marks the launch of the public phase of the campaign to raise the remaining funds for the facilities.
“Our donors have been incredible, and we can’t thank them enough for sharing our vision to better serve our students and teams. They have committed $53 million to this project because they believe in the impact it will have on the lives of our students,” added Cohen. “We have a lot of work to do to raise the additional funds needed to make this project a reality, and we look forward to continued conversations with our donors now that we have regental support for the project.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to move forward with the plans for these facilities,” said Jennifer Cohen, Director of Athletics. “The Health and High Performance Center will support the development, health and well-being of our students now and for years to come, which is central to our mission. The Basketball Training and Operations Facility will provide our teams with much needed practice and community spaces, and is an important investment for the future success of both programs.”
Construction on the venue, which has a projected budget of $60.5 million, is scheduled to get underway in 2021 with completion slated for 2023. Today’s board approval also marks the launch of the public phase of the campaign to raise the remaining funds for the facilities.
“Our donors have been incredible, and we can’t thank them enough for sharing our vision to better serve our students and teams. They have committed $53 million to this project because they believe in the impact it will have on the lives of our students,” added Cohen. “We have a lot of work to do to raise the additional funds needed to make this project a reality, and we look forward to continued conversations with our donors now that we have regental support for the project.”
The Basketball Training & Operations Facility will feature state-of-the-art practice courts, locker rooms, recruiting/player lounges, film rooms and a new front porch to celebrate the history and significance of both programs. Connected to this facility, the Health & High Performance Center will include centralized services including: strength & conditioning, nutrition, and mental health wellness, athletic training and medical services. The Center will serve over 500 student-athletes.
“This is an exciting development for the growth of our basketball program,” said head men’s basketball coach, Mike Hopkins. “Once finished, it’s going to immediately benefit our student-athletes and provide them with additional support and resources while they are Huskies. We’re very thankful for those who believe in what we are doing and are helping us continue to grow.”
“We are ecstatic for the news to move forward with our plans for our new basketball operations facility,” said head women’s basketball coach, Jody Wynn. “Thank you to our donors, athletic department members and university Board of Regents for making this all possible. It will be a tremendous place for the development of our young women with access to their own basketball training court, and improved performance and nutrition center. The staff office space will allow us to meet all as one and host recruits, visitors and families. This will help us offer state-of-the-art facilities for our current and future Huskies.”
“One of the most important ways to ensure a quality experience for our student-athletes from a health and performance standpoint, is excellent collaboration among the many support areas in our athletic department, stated Robert Scheidegger, Assistant AD for Medical Services/Head Athletic Trainer. “The Health and High Performance Center will bring together all of the quality professionals we have working in sports medicine, nutrition, psychology and sport performance into one modern facility vastly improving collaboration between these important support areas, enhancing the student-athlete experience.”
More details, as well as renderings of the new space, will be released as they become available.
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