Major Construction Projects Continuing at the Rice Center
Brittany Adcox
Issue date: 5/4/10 Section: Sports
Benedictine will be busy this summer with two major construction projects on the Lisle campus; a parking garage and the ongoing renovations of the Rice Center.
With a sports complex that is nationally ranked among Division III schools, Benedictine's Rice Center has fallen under the radar.
With only a hand full of cardio machines, out dated lifting equipment and a gymnasium floor that once consisted of rubber and cement, the Rice Center is getting a much needed face lift.
With a lot of work still ahead, the Rice Center is well on its way to becoming a dream workout area. Late January, the rubber floor was replaced with a top-of-the-line wood floor. While it was an inconvenience for both, indoor and outdoor sports, the wooden floor was well worth the wait.
"We would have 6:00 am practices off campus at three different locations and even had our scheduled home games off campus. But now, all the players and coaches are happy and grateful for the new addition," said Men's Head Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic director, Keith Bunkenburg.
While everyone is still admiring the new addition to the Rice Center, there is still much to come. New bleachers are next on the list of renovations for the arena. As of now, the installation of the new stands and chair back seats will begin August 6, 2010, and will hopefully be completed by the first home volleyball game this upcoming fall.
"The capacity will be just under 1,700 with over 450 preferred seats [chair backs]. The layout includes replacing the two current bleachers on each side of the floor and adding a third section along the East wall to serve as a student section," says Assistant Athletic Director, John Morris.
The next priority for the Rice Center is a new "Wellness Center." Work will begin this summer on the site of the old pool and is expected to be completed in spring of 2011. While the current weight room is only 1100 square feet, the new Wellness Center will be a two-story, 14,000 square foot training facility for the entire campus.
With a sports complex that is nationally ranked among Division III schools, Benedictine's Rice Center has fallen under the radar.
With only a hand full of cardio machines, out dated lifting equipment and a gymnasium floor that once consisted of rubber and cement, the Rice Center is getting a much needed face lift.
With a lot of work still ahead, the Rice Center is well on its way to becoming a dream workout area. Late January, the rubber floor was replaced with a top-of-the-line wood floor. While it was an inconvenience for both, indoor and outdoor sports, the wooden floor was well worth the wait.
"We would have 6:00 am practices off campus at three different locations and even had our scheduled home games off campus. But now, all the players and coaches are happy and grateful for the new addition," said Men's Head Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic director, Keith Bunkenburg.
While everyone is still admiring the new addition to the Rice Center, there is still much to come. New bleachers are next on the list of renovations for the arena. As of now, the installation of the new stands and chair back seats will begin August 6, 2010, and will hopefully be completed by the first home volleyball game this upcoming fall.
"The capacity will be just under 1,700 with over 450 preferred seats [chair backs]. The layout includes replacing the two current bleachers on each side of the floor and adding a third section along the East wall to serve as a student section," says Assistant Athletic Director, John Morris.
The next priority for the Rice Center is a new "Wellness Center." Work will begin this summer on the site of the old pool and is expected to be completed in spring of 2011. While the current weight room is only 1100 square feet, the new Wellness Center will be a two-story, 14,000 square foot training facility for the entire campus.