The ceremonial event will take place immediately following the college's annual Founders' Day Convocation that begins at 11 a.m. in Brown Memorial Chapel. It will be held at the northeast corner of the Haynes Gymnasium, near the Peavy Memorial Climbing Tower.
For the new state-of-the-art facility, the current Haynes Gymnasium will be almost completely gutted and then doubled in size to add a competition-size swimming pool and elevated running/walking track that will have a view of campus gardens and the arboretum between Haynes and Mickle Hall of Science. It will be completed by Fall 2000.
Centenary President Kenneth L. Schwab will unveil plans, which will include a 25-meter six-lane swimming pool, spa, sauna, running/walking track, dance and aerobics rooms, and free weight and exercise areas. Courts will be available for squash, racquetball and basketball. The gym area will include moveable bleachers and can be adapted to various court sizes.
The Fitness Center and Natatorium is the largest of six projects that will be covered in a $12 million bond issue designed to meet student needs and improve the campus as the college enters the next millenium.
Project architects are the Newman Partnership, Inc., and the builder is McInnis Brothers Construction, Inc. Dignitaries participating in the ceremony include William G. Anderson and Charles Ellis Brown, members of the Centenary Board of Trustees; Mike Newman of the Newman Partnership; George McInnis of McInnis Construction; and Vince Ware and Dawson Taylor, both of the Centenary Student Government Association.
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