The new Performance Center will have its opening day at the end of March. The soccer playing facilities are aimed to open in August and the softball, student recreation field and Performance Center are slated to be ready in January. Photo by Avery Bikerman/The Daily Campus
The University of Connecticut’s new Performance Center and stadiums for soccer, baseball and softball will have its first opening day at the end of March, Michael Schrier, director of design and STEM projects, said.
Since the center has three main sections, the baseball playing facilities will be opening in March, Schrier said. The soccer playing facilities are aimed to open in August and the softball, student recreation field and Performance Center are slated to be ready in January.
“The new Performance Center will consist of new team locker rooms for the baseball, softball soccer and lacrosse teams,” Michael Schrier, director of design and STEM projects, said. Photo by Avery Bikerman/The Daily Campus
“It will be a rolling opening throughout the next year,” Schrier said. “Baseball will be ready for opening day on March 29, 2020, soccer on Aug.1,2020, the new Performance Center will be ready for occupancy in January 2021 as well as softball and the student rec field. The building is under construction and will be ready for occupancy in January 2021.”
This project will be replacing the “old and outdated” facilities and playing venues, Schrier said.
“The new Performance Center will consist of new team locker rooms for the baseball, softball soccer and lacrosse teams,” Schrierir said. “The facility will also include coaches’ offices, conference room, a strength and conditioning room, athletic training, therapy, pools, video room, indoor batting facility and associated support spaces.”
The center is targeted to be LEED Certified, a green building rating certification, he said.
“New construction of a state facility that is [over] five million must comply with standards for high performance buildings that address areas of concern including energy efficiency, water savings, material selection, sustainable site development strategies such as storm water management, etc,” Schrier said. “Complying with these regulations produces facilities that consume less energy, are more comfortable and healthier to work in, are less costly to maintain and conserve natural resources.”
A portion of Jim Calhoun Way is going to be closed until summer 2020, Schrier said. Other changes will include no access to core campus from Separatist Road. There will be bus, special event and game traffic routing through Hilltop Apartments when necessary, according to the University Planning, Design and Construction website.
“It will be closed [through] the summer to enable utility work to take place in the road to serve the surrounding facilities,” he said.
Schrier said the new facilities will greatly enhance the athletic experience on campus.
“The facilities including the new playing venues, performance center and all site improvements when complete will transform that area of campus enhancing the student athlete and fan experience for all of UConn to enjoy and be proud of,” he said.
Rachel Philipson is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at rachel.philipson@uconn.edu.
