FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cindy Deppe, media relations, 641-269-4834

October 11, 2007

COLLEGE TRUSTEES APPROVE PHASE II FOR ATHLETICS AND FITNESS CENTER

The Grinnell College Board of Trustees recently approved plans to construct a natatorium and fieldhouse in the second phase of a two-part athletics and fitness center.

The 275,000 sq. ft. project will form a reversed L-shape around Rosenbloom Field and connect to the college's Les Duke Track on the north perimeter of the 100-acre campus. Phase I of the athletics and fitness center, which was completed in 2005, includes 1,250-seat Darby Gymnasium, home of the Pioneer men's and women's basketball teams and volleyball team; an auxiliary practice gymnasium; and a fitness center.

Phase I architects from the firms of Sasaki Associates and Pelli Clarke Pelli will collaborate on Phase II, which will include a natatorium with an eight-lane 50-meter pool that will be connected via underground link to the west of the current center on 10th Avenue. The natatorium, which will add spectator seating for 600, will be accessible to local community members and the high school swim team. Classrooms, a climbing wall, lockers, and a dance studio will also be housed in the underground link and natatorium.

The fieldhouse, which will house a competition track and tennis facility, will be located north of the current athletics and fitness center and include racquetball courts, training spaces, additional classrooms, locker rooms, and athletic department offices.

"The Athletics and Fitness Center is part of the college's campus plan adopted in 2000 and supports Grinnell's values to educate and prepare students for lives involving wellness and physical fitness," said Grinnell College President Russell Osgood. "We are pleased to be able to offer our campus community and the larger Grinnell community these outstanding facilities for athletics and wellness."

The final project cost for Phase II is pending the bidding process. "We expect to seek contributions for up to 40 percent of the estimated project cost," said Mickey Munley, vice president of college and alumni relations. "The balance for this large capital project will come from endowment earnings."

Construction on Phase II will begin next spring, although preparatory work including installation of a geothermal well field and re-routing of storm and water lines will begin this fall. The geothermal well field, which will supply efficient heating and cooling to the natatorium, will lie underneath Springer Field (on 10th Ave. between Phase I Athletics and Fitness Center and the Black Cultural Center), which will be used as a staging area for construction and restored at the conclusion of the project.

Grinnell College Director of Athletics and Recreation Greg Wallace said that, upon completion in 2010, the addition of the fieldhouse and natatorium "will give us some of the very best facilities in all of Division III athletics and recreation." The entire new center is expected to be LEED certified as well. For a view of facility plans, go to http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/institutionalplanning/tour/athletics/.

The current Physical Education Complex (PEC), constructed in 1971, is slated for demolition once Phase II is complete. Due to limitations of the 1970s construction, the PEC is one of the poorest performing buildings on campus in terms of energy efficiency and maintenance.

According to Marci Sortor, vice president for institutional planning, "the demolition will be carefully planned to make the best use of materials and recycling to reduce environmental impact. The campus plan calls for open space between Rosenbloom Field and Ward Field (north of 8th Ave.). The underground link between Phase I and Phase II will facilitate the open, green space plan but will reduce current adjacent parking. There are longer range plans for additional parking on part of the PEC site to accommodate public access to athletic events as well as campus events."

Community members interested in using the Athletics and Fitness Center should contact the Grinnell Parks and Recreation Department.

Nearly one-third of Grinnell students participate in 20 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past five years, Grinnell has led the Midwest Conference in Academic All-Conference honorees. -30-