The Center for Athletics Recreation and Fitness

Gettysburg College's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the building of a new Center for Athletics, Recreation and Fitness while fundraising for the project continues.

"A new Center for Athletics, Recreation, and Fitness is not a luxury," President Katherine Haley Will said. "It is an absolute necessity for Gettysburg College, and I am pleased to have the support from the Board of Trustees."

The Sept. 28 vote took place during the Board's fall meeting. A subcommittee of the Board led by John Jaeger, a 1965 Gettysburg College graduate and president of DANAC real estate development firm, performed a detailed preconstruction review, including project scope and architectural design. Cannon Design, an international architectural, engineering and planning firm, will serve as the architect for the project.

"Because our students are so active, we need to provide a wide array of opportunities for recreation and fitness to them, including weight training, aerobic activities, swimming, spinning and yoga," Jaeger said. "It has been a true pleasure to lead this committee in the feasibility stage of the project and to have the support of all of the trustees for this important and necessary building."

"While approval from the trustees for the new Center for Athletics, Recreation and Fitness is an important milestone in the history of the project, fundraising must continue to support it," said Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Victoria Dowling. "The need for individuals to step up and commit to supporting this building is great. They will follow others who have gone before them to support this project, including John Jaeger and Robert Ortenzio, both graduates of Gettysburg College."

The $25-million project will total 55,000 square feet of new construction including a new eight-lane competition natatorium with a four-lane warm-up pool and spectator gallery that seats 350; fully equipped weight and fitness room; multipurpose venues for aerobics, yoga, Pilates, dance, spinning and martial arts classes; fully renovated and enlarged athletic training room and Hydroworx therapy pool; and state-of-the-art climbing wall. The College will break ground for the project in spring 2008 and open in fall 2009.

The first major gift for the project was given by Jaeger, who offered to match gifts to the Center dollar for dollar, up to $1.2 million. In his role as trustee, Jaeger has seen for several years the pressing need for building a great athletic and recreation space for our active campus community. Nearly 25 percent of the College's students participate on one of the 24 varsity athletic teams fielded by Gettysburg, and more than three-fourths of all students take part in an extensive intramural and club sports program.

Most recently, Gettysburg College received a gift of $2 million for the Center for Athletics, Recreation and Fitness from Ortenzio - the largest single outright gift made by a living individual in the history of the College. Chief executive officer of Select Medical Corporation in nearby Mechanicsburg, Ortenzio was an All-America wrestler for the Bullets and was inducted into the Gettysburg College Hall of Athletic Honor in 1999.

"Athletics was an important part of my educational experience at Gettysburg," Ortenzio said, "and I am happy that I can support this important project - a project that will further the strong athletic tradition at the College. The new Center will also add vitally needed recreation and fitness space for all members of the campus community."

To make a gift, contact Victoria Dowling at 717.337.6501 or vdowling@gettysburg.edu, or visit www.gettysburg.edu and click on the "Make A Gift" link at the top of the homepage.

Issued: 9/28/07

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