After years of waiting, Northwestern's new facilities will soon be built.
The NU board of trustees officially approved a plan to build a $220 million, on-campus athletic complex along the lakefront.
“This will provide state-of-the-art, transformational practice, training and competition facilities for our varsity sports,” said Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips in a statement. “The improvements will provide better integration of our student-athletes with other students on our main campus, reducing the divide that manifests when there are separate facilities for student-athletes, as occurs at many other institutions."
The new complex will include seating for 2,500, an outdoor practice field for varsity sports, club sports, and intramurals, plus locker rooms, a fitness center, sports medicine facilities, meeting rooms, and offices.
“We are extremely appreciative of the support for athletics and recreation displayed by President Schapiro, the Board of Trustees and the board’s Educational Properties Committee,” added Phillips. “The vision shown by University leadership has paved the way for this opportunity, one sure to provide exceptional benefits for our student-athletes and coaches, and the entire Northwestern community.”
The announcement came on Saturday morning, just prior to the kickoff of Northwestern's contest with Boston College.