A NEW ‘JEWEL’ SHINING IN THE VALLEY
Grand Canyon University unveils architectural marvel THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
GO ‘LOPES! DESIGN TEAM Architekton
Architecture + Interior Design
360 Architecture
Architecture + Interior Design + Graphics
Henderson Engineers, Inc.
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing
Kunka Engineering, Inc.
Mechanical
The Moore/Swick Partnership Landscape Architecture
Paragon Structural Design, Inc.
Structural
PKA Structural Engineering
Structural
Strand Associates, Inc.
Civil + Land Surveying
Van Boerum & Frank Associates, Inc.
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing
Woodward Engineering
Electrical
THANK YOU
Architekton
Architekton + 360
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
RECREATION CENTER
Paragon Henderson Strand
Paragon VBFA Strand
FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF GCU’S FUTURE Architekton + 360 Paragon Henderson Strand Moore/Swick
ARENA Architekton
PKA, Kunka, Woodward, Strand, Moore/Swick
Architekton
PKA Henderson Strand Moore/Swick
T H U N D E R A LLE Y S T U D E N T SE RV I C E S
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE:
GCU ARENA
It’s a new day for Grand Canyon University, which has quietly gone about its business on the west side of Phoenix since its founding more than 60 years ago. The game changer: the opening of 5,000-seat GCU Arena, a spectacular sports and concert facility that is the most visible piece of more than $200 million in campus renovation and expansion.
Table of Contents 5|
JEWEL OF THE CAMPUS The GCU Arena, the centerpiece of the university’s expansion, is unlike any venue in the state
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BUILDING A BETTER GCU Campus expansion engages and enhances students’ experience
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BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME Tempe architectural firm makes impact on GCU
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COME CELEBRATE! Check out GCU’s state-of-the-art arena, and some of the upcoming events
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THE SPORTING LIFE GCU’s tradition of athletic excellence poised to go to the next level
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BIG MAN ON CAMPUS Bob Machen, the man behind Chase Field and US Airways, brings decades of experience to GCU
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THE CURTAIN OPENS GCU’s Ethington Theater is one of the Valley’s most polished venues
Created by REPUBLIC CUSTOM PUBLISHING, a division of Republic Media | 200 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 | 602-933-1000 General Manager: CAMI KAISER | Manager Creative Development: ISAAC MOYA | Editor: JIM WILLIAMS | Managing Art Director: TRACEY PHALEN Designer: CRAIG KURTZ | Editorial Intern: JESSICA RUSH | Advertising: CHRIS LORELLO, 602-444-8812 Architectural renderings courtesy of Architekton + 360 Architecture
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 • 5
THE JEWEL OF THE CAMPUS
WELCOME TO THE THE NEW GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY ARENA, A TRUE ARCHITECTURAL WONDER.
Grand Canyon’s state-of-the-art arena: part sports venue, part intimate theater BY J I M M Y M AGA H E R N
SPORTS THEATER
I
Ascending the concrete steps leading up the 17 rows of permanent high-back seats, Machen, now GCU’s senior vice president of campus development, notes that the slope is steeper — more like the seating in an IMAX theater than a sports stadium. “The top row of seating is much closer to the action than in most arenas, because the width of the building is compressed,” he said. “There’s really not a bad seat in the house.” The arena’s builder, Perini Building Company, worked closely with the design team to build an arena that not only will be a great sports facility, but also will act as an excellent concert hall, said Ken Schacherbauer, vice president of field
f you had a hand in building one of the biggest and busiest sports arenas in Phoenix and were offered, some 20 years later, the opportunity to build it again — only this time, on a smaller, more intimate scale — chances are you’d want to go for the same magic that former America West Arena president Bob Machen has achieved with Grand Canyon University Arena. “This is one-third the size of America West Arena,” said Machen, who admits he still hasn’t gotten used to calling the Suns’ 19,000-seat home court by its post2005 merger name, US Airways Center. “But it’s not simply a scaled-down version of that. The idea was to make it as intimate as possible.”
THE SEATING AT THE ARENA CAN BE CONFIGURED FOR FULL- OR HALF-VENUE SETTINGS. operations for Perini Building Company. “The building geometry, lighting, and acoustic systems incorporated in the construction will make it a very special place to see a concert, lecture, stage show and a basketball game,” Schacherbauer said “The seating arrangements and sight lines will be the best in town.” The resulting shape on the inside is less a wide punchbowl and more an ark, which is fitting, since the arena, besides hosting GCU’s men’s and women’s basketball
games and other athletic events, will also bring in some of the top performers in Christian music. The arena’s first concert event on Sept. 23 will feature Grammy and Dove award-winning contemporary Christian rock band Casting Crowns.
CHRISTIAN HEADLINERS Grand Canyon University CEO Brian Mueller believes GCU Arena will become a welcoming home to other top acts in Christian music, which, while too popular
6 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
THE GCU ARENA WILL SEAT MORE 5,000 FOR ANTELOPE BASKETBALL. to play most houses of worship (Casting Crowns alone has sold more than 5 million records), still lack the mainstream fan base to fill cavernous halls like the Jobing.com Arena or US Airways Center. “Ninety percent of these entertainers can’t attract 20,000 people,” Mueller said. “They can’t even afford to turn on the lights at one of those places. But here we can seat about 5,500 for concerts and a little over 5,000 for basketball and other athletic events. For a lot of performers, it’s the perfect size.”
BIG OR SMALL Indeed, GCU Arena can even shrink in size via what’s called a “half-house curtain” that can be positioned to cordon off either half or two-thirds of the U-shaped concert seating, which can accommodate performers or speakers used to even more intimate surroundings. “We have a moveable stage,” Mueller said. “So if we have a sold-out concert,
we can set the arena up to seat 5,500, or, if it’s only going to draw 4,000, we can move the stage up, drop the curtain behind it, and we still have a sold-out-looking arena.” It’s a unique set-up that virtually hugs those at the center with devoted fans, leaving no empty seats in view and creating a communal feeling of wholeness, no matter the size of the assemblage.
RISING STAR Mueller hopes the arena, prominently overlooking west Camelback Road at 33rd Avenue, will become an iconic symbol for the university, which will also staff a hospitality center on the north end of the arena’s ground floor. And certainly the arena’s performer-hugging design — big enough to compete with the best, yet flexible enough to provide a smaller, more focused spotlight when needed — corresponds with the unique level of stateof-the-art, yet personal education offered
BUILDING A MASTERPIECE • DESIGN TEAM: 11 companies from five states, 85 employees, 100,000 emails, 29,367 files in 3,743 folders (67.1 GB of space), 800 sheets of drawings, 162 meetings, three babies born, one marriage proposal. • STRUCTURE: 8,870 yards of concrete, 793 tons of structural steel, 585 tons of reinforcement steel, 446 pieces of precast, 26,000 blocks, 41,000 bricks. • ELECTRICAL: 75 miles of wire, 35 miles of conduit, 2,300 light fixtures, eight transformers, 350-kilowatt emergency generator, 75 panels. • MECHANICAL: 105,000-pound duct, 11 air handlers, 21 fan coils, two cooling towers. • PLUMBING: 8,700 linear feet of domestic water piping, 8,700 linear feet of waste, vent and roofing piping above ground, 2,700 linear feet of plumbing piping underground, 135 fixtures. • METAL AND GLASS: 600 exterior metal panels for upper level (450 custom cut), 550 pieces of corrugated metal panels, 1,500 square feet of custom flat metal panels, 400 pieces of exterior glass, 100 pieces of glass handrail. • SAFETY: 69,000 man hours by Perini Building Co., 255,000 total project man hours, two recordable accidents, zero lost-time accidents. • MISCELLANEOUS: 42 steps from event level to concourse level, 17 restrooms, five concession stands, four locker rooms, three pizza ovens, two grand stairs, two escalators, two elevators, one vault (buried at center court) containing Bibles. SOURCES: TOM REILLY, ARCHITEKTON; NEIL BAKER, PERINI BUILDING CO.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 • 7
at Grand Canyon University. For Machen, surveying the giant highdefinition video screen above the south end of the building (one of several, both inside and outside the arena, that will come alive on opening day), the arena hits that elusive perfect blend of impact and intimacy — properties the entire university is aiming for as it begins its new era of phenomenal growth. “The first time you see this, you can be sitting at the other end if the arena and it’s just like sitting at home watching a highdef TV,” he said. Much like Arizona’s sole private university itself, he adds, “It’s like CLUB SEATING AT THE ARENA PROVIDES AN INTIMATE VIEW. nothing else in the state.”
MSA Engineering Consultants sincerely thanks Grand Canyon University for the opportunity to support your continued growth.
Congratulations on the arena completion! 602.943.8424 • www.msa-phx.com 7878 N. 16th St., Suite 270, Phoenix, AZ 85020 MSA Engineering Consultants is an electrical, mechanical, plumbing, low voltage and renewable energy design firm.
8 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
BUILDING A BIGGER, BETTER GCU Campus expansion engages, enhances students’ experience
B Y G L E N N S WA I N
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rand Canyon University students weren’t the only ones gathering for on-campus meetings this school year. Contractors, architects and the school’s construction development team held weekly meetings to chaperon a variety of expansion projects for the 2011-2012 school year that include a state-of-the-art sports arena, a food service building and a new student dorm. “We are creating sections on our campus,” said Construction Manager Charlie Sirokman. “We have athletics in one corner, student housing in the north sector, then our student union and food service building is nestled between student housing and athletics as well. We really try to engage our students to interact with each other, which benefits their education they’re while here.”
STUDENT HOUSING With an increase in the number of students attending Grand Canyon University, school officials needed more housing. Canyon Hall was completed last year. Opening this fall is Prescott Hall, a 502bed, 145,000-square-foot student dormitory that sits on center campus. “From the day we broke ground, they started taking reservations on rooms,” said Butch Glispie, owner of Glendale-based Pono Construction, builder of the two newest dorm buildings. “Prescott Hall was already 100 percent occupied before we even turned it over to the school. We actu-
THUNDER ALLEY ally broke ground at Christmas and turned it over in July. That’s incredibly quick.” Pono, who built the College of Education building that opened in January, is about to break ground on a fourth dorm building and is currently near finalizing an agreement to construct the new College of Arts and Sciences building.
FOOD, FITNESS AND FUN Meanwhile this summer, Scottsdale-base UEB Builders was busy constructing Thunder Alley, a new 14,500-square-foot food service building that seats 450 students both inside and outside. The building features a convenience store, coffee bar and a six-lane bowling alley in the basement. The facility glows with the vibrant Grand Canyon University purple, gray and white colors. “We broke ground on Thunder Alley on March 21, and we turned it over Aug. 15,”
THUNDER ALLEY FEATURES A COFFEE BAR AND OTHER AMENITIES.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 • 9
said Tom Keilty, a principle of UEB Builders. “They didn’t even start the design until December last year.” UEB also built the school’s 55,000-square-foot Student Recreation Center that opened for the 2010-2011 school year. The rec center is a multiuse facility that features three basketball courts, fitness areas and locker rooms. In July, the center hosted tryouts for the Phoenix Suns Dancers. According to the school, since opening for the 2010-2011 school year, the rec center has averaged 2,500 visitors per week. “The rec center was built in seven and a half months; for a facility that large,
g
that’s unheard of,” Keilty added. “The food service building took less than five months. This is 40 to 50 percent faster than normal.”
STUDENT ENVIRONMENT “The student union building was stretched, so the food service building was necessary in order to make it a great environment for our students,” Sirokman said. As the campus continues to grow, so does enthusiasm. “It’s wonderful to see the smiles and the excitement on the faces of students and faculty when they tour these buildings,” Sirokman said.
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY VIDEO VIDE VI DEEO BOARD BBOOAR A D ON ON EDUCATION EDDUUCA CATI TION TI OONN BBUILDING UILDINNG
for allowing us to be part of the team in their VISION for the future.
TIMES SQUARE IN THE DESERT Grand Canyon University is beginning to look like Times Square. Wrapping around the eastern exterior of the school’s College of Education classroom building is a 17-foot-by-38-foot, high-resolution video board on the second level of the structure’s exterior. It consists of 60 panels, each weighing as much as 90 pounds and containing up to 24 LED modules inside. The huge board is the work of Darren Bak, who owns Atlanta-based Innovation Sports Marketing. Bak and his team specialize in development, design, engineering, installation and management of LED display systems for sports and entertainment facilities. “From a recruiting standpoint, it’s great to see,” Bak said. “It’s all for the new generation to enjoy and bring new and exciting events to the school.” Bak also designed the 35-foot-wide-by-14.5-foot-tall, nearly three-ton scoreboard for the school’s new 5,000-seat sports arena, along with its 525-foot-long ribbon board that encircles the arena. “We can run pieces of video on it, including full head shots,” Bak added. “From any position, it’s interactive with fans.” Bak said there are exactly 3,627,520 total LEDs in all of the video displays on campus. Any more, and Grand Canyon University might be seen from space. — G L E N N S WA I N
Recreation Center Classroom Building Residence Life Building Events Center Food Services
Material Suppliers to Aluglas:
a ®
ia
ALUGLAS, LLC Glass and Glazing Subcontractor
480-752-0523
10 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME
Tempe architectural firm makes impact on GCU landscape B Y G L E N N S WA I N
A
Tempe-based architectural firm has its fingerprints all over the recent renovation and expansion of the campus at Grand Canyon University. In the last few years, Architekton has designed five new facilities that have drastically altered GCU’s landscape. Opening this fall are the 5,000-seat, multipurpose GCU Arena, the five-story residence building Prescott Hall and a dining facility, Thunder Alley, which
has a six-lane bowling alley in its basement. The University’s College of Education building and Student Recreation Center opened during the 2010-11 school year.
CROWN JEWEL Architekton worked in conjunction with 360, a Kansas City-based sports architecture firm, to design the arena, which Tom Reilly of Architekton calls
the “crown jewel” of the campus. The school wanted the arena to connect the campus with the community, and the facility’s design reflects that. A glass wall faces out to Camelback Road for those driving by and another faces the north side of the campus. The event inside becomes the identity of the arena on that particular day. The arena will be used for concerts, basketball games, other athletic events, lectures and speaking engagements, and it can be downsized to 2,000 seats for more intimate functions. The facility was not built as an island in a sea of parking spaces; instead, those attending an event
can filter through the campus. Thunder Alley houses a food court adjacent to the Rec Center, serving Mexican and Asian dining options. Prescott Hall features suite-style rooms, with each suite housing up to four students with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a shared living room.
CREATING A SOCIAL NETWORK The recently opened College of Education building was designed to provide an engaging college experience for students. State-of-the-art classroom space was a priority, but so was the social interaction
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so important to the campus experience, according to Architekton. The building includes furnished areas where students can mingle and visit with faculty members. There are “computer bars” built for quickly reviewing an assignment before or after class. The goal with most of the new additions to campus has been to blend the formal educational experience with the informal campus experience. And GCU is far from finished in that regard. Construction will begin soon on a fourth residence hall, Camelback Hall, and a College of Arts and Sciences building.
THE NEW GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY ARENA IS UNLIKE ANY VENUE IN THE STATE.
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12 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
COMING SOON TO THE GCU ARENA Music and more featured at the new venue
B Y G R E M L Y N B R A D L E Y - WA D D E L L
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ure, Grand Canyon University Arena just opened, but campus organizers aren’t wasting time in arranging stellar events in and around the gorgeous new space. Here are a few of this year’s highlights:
CASTING CROWNS
7:30 p.m., Friday | World Vision presents Christian music group Casting Crowns and its “Come to the Well” tour, along with Sanctus Real, The Afters and Lindsay McCaul.
THE DAVID CROWDER*BAND 7 p.m., Oct. 6 | Christian music’s The David Crowder*Band and its “The 7 Tour,” along with Gungor, Chris August and John Mark McMillan.
GCU’S RUN TO FIGHT CHILDREN’S CANCER 6:30 a.m. (registration), Oct. 15 | The GCU Run to Fight Children’s Cancer not only starts and ends near Grand Canyon University Arena but also features a 10K for runners, a 5K for runners or walkers and, especially for cancer survivors, a fee-free walk at the end of the race.
MORE CONCERTS! Switchfoot 7:30 p.m. , Friday, Oct. 21 Lady Antebellum Own the Night Tour 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17 CASTING CROWNS PERFORM FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE NEW ARENA. What’s more, 100 percent of the proceeds to go the Children’s Cancer Network. And talk about inspiration: young survivors representing the local charity will be on hand to high-five all athletes. Information: www.runtofightcancer.com.
Medalist and two-time World Champion Brian Boitano; World champion Kimmie Meissner; three-time U.S. National Champion and two-time World bronze medalist Michael Weiss; 10-time Canadian Ice Dancing Champion Shae-Lynn Bourne; five-time U.S. Champions Naomi Lang MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER and Peter Tchernyshev, who also live, 7 p.m., Nov. 12 | Pandora Unforgettable teach and train in the Valley; and British Holiday Moments on Ice combines the art- champion Steven Cousins. istry of legendary music group Mannheim The extravaganza will be filmed for Steamroller with American Idol standout broadcast at a later date. David Archuleta and a distinguished list of figure skating luminaries. GRADUATION Chip Davis, founder of Mannheim May 2012 | GCU’s first on-campus Steamroller, and Olympic champion Kristi graduation ceremony, which has been held Yamaguchi will host the show, which will at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix the feature not only the sounds of Christmas past three years. This year’s commencebut also the talents of 1988 Olympic Gold ment exercises are slated to take place
Third Day The Make Your Move Tour 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20 * Doors open an hour before shows
TICKETS • GCUArena.com • GCU Arena Box Office, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017 • 602-639-8999 over several days and will be separated by college. Although precise numbers are not yet available, it’s expected that more than 8,000 degrees will be conferred, about half of which will be master’s and doctoral degrees.
FOR MORE INFORMATION www.gcuarena.com
It takes time for a ‘jewel’ to take form: A visual time line of GCU’s new arena
SEPTEMBER 2010
OCTOBER 2010
NOVEMBER 2010
DECEMBER 2010
JANUARY 2011
West Missouri Avenue
North Campus 40. Human Resources 41. Facilities Management: Warehouse 42. Facilities Management: Warehouse 43. Marketing 44. Facilities Management: Admin 45. Sydney’s Center: Offices
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
#10 29
42
32 #2
25
#8
#9 17 17
#3
NORTH CAMPUS
40. Human Resources 41. Facilities Management: Warehouse 42. Facilities Management: Warehouse 43. Marketing 44. Facilities Management: Admin 45. Sydney’s Center: Offices
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31
11
15 15
45
44
30
15 15 12
41
Little Canyon Trail
—Find Your Purpo se—
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 • 13
40
#8
#4 #6
#5
Parking
#7 #7
22
14
18
34
9
28 27 CONHS-B
26 6 COAS 4
OFF SITE LOCATIONS
Annex I: 3446 W. Camelback Road, Ste 127, Phoenix II: Online Student Services Annexove II: 3446 W. Camelback Road, Ste 121, Phoenix 50 W Grove Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85283 Camelwest Plaza, 2001 W. Camelback Road oria III: Online Student Services Grove I01and II: Online Student Services, W Peoria Ave, 2nd Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85029 1150 W. Grove Parkway, Tempe melwest Plaza Little Canyon Preschool, First Southern Baptist Church, 01 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017 3100leW. Camelback Road, Phoenix Canyon Preschool Services, 2411 W. Peoria Ave., Online Student Peoria stI: Southern Baptist Church Ste 00 300, W Phoenix Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017 Peoria II and III: Online Student Services, 2401 W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix
FEBRUARY 2011
2
13
24 33 COE
5 1
35 KBCOB
Quad
19 CONHS-A
23
3 13
21 38 Arena First Southern Baptist Church
West Camelback Road
MARCH 2011
Little Canyon Trail
Intramural Field
COFAP
33rd Avenue Entrance
32nd Avenue Entrance
MAY 2011
31st Avenue
North 35th Avenue
36
20
Volley Ball
MAIN CAMPUS
1. Wallace: Offices/Classrooms 2. Smithey-Parker: Executive Offices 3. Ray: Executive Offices/Marketing 4. Kachina Hall: Accounting 5. Event Services 6. College of Arts and Sciences 9. Public Safety/Fleet/ROTC 11. Thunder Alley 12. Recreation Center 13. Security Booth 14. Baseball Concession Stand/Press Box 17. North Rim Apartments: Student Housing 18. Media Arts Complex: College of Fine Arts and Production/Classrooms/Canyon Café 19. College of Nursing Complex A: Classrooms/Admin/Lecture Hall 20. Recreational Pool 21. Ethington Memorial Theatre/Amphitheatre 22. Antelope Gymnasium 23. Fleming Library 24. Fleming: Classrooms/Assessment/ College of Doctoral Studies 25. Kaibab: Ground Enrollment Center/ Student Tech Support/Athletics 26. Bookstore 27. College of Nursing Complex B: Tell Science – Classrooms/Admin 28. Student Computer Center 29. Student Union: Food Services/ McKinley Banquet Hall/Campus Life/Spiritual Life/Cooke Health Center/Copy-Mail Center/ Career Services/Alumni Relations 30. Hegel Hall: Student Housing 31. Canyon Hall: Student Housing 32. Facilities Management: Boiler Room 33. College of Education: Classrooms/Admin 34. Tim Salmon Baseball Clubhouse 35. Ken Blanchard College of Business: Classrooms/Admin/Lecture Hall/ Center for Learning & Advancement 36. Prescott Hall: Student Housing 38. Arena
31st Avenue Entrance
JUNE 2011
14 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
THE SPORTING LIFE WITH THE ’LOPES
GCU athletes compete at highest level
and wrestling practice facility (only one year old), plus the allure of the metro Phoenix market, GCU presents an enticing possibility for a Division I conference in an era of realignment. The next few years should be intriguing for ’Lopes fans. “In the meantime, we diligently go about our business of making GCU a
W
hich Arizona university has the most intercollegiate sports? Which has the only men’s volleyball program? Which was the first to win a national basketball championship? If you answered “Grand Canyon University” to all of the above, go to the head of the class for your understanding of athletic success on the west side of Phoenix. And get this: With the construction of 5,000-seat GCU Arena and a host of recent facilities upgrades on campus, it appears that the best is yet to come for the Antelopes, who share that distinctive nickname with only one university in the country (the Lopers of the University of Nebraska at Kearney). Already a premier athletic program in NCAA Division SAMANTHA MURPHY II — Grand Canyon finished eighth among 235 schools in the all-sports sification process, a Division I conference Learfield Sports Directors Cup for 2010-11 would have to extend an invitation. Pos— GCU has its sights set on moving up to sible destinations for the university include the Western Athletic Conference or the Division I in short order. “Obviously, the visibility of NCAA Di- Big Sky Conference, of which Northern Arizona University is a member. GCU’s vision I athletic programs is higher,” said baseball program held WAC membership Keith Baker, GCU’s director of athletics. “It is natural to have the desire to compete for a time, several years ago. With the new Arena, a new outdoor at the highest level available.” track and a 55,000-square-foot basketball For Grand Canyon to enter the reclas-
ence, the Antelopes defeated Brigham Young University-Hawaii, 69-64, in a thriller. BYU-Hawaii went on to reach the championship game in the Division II national tournament. Four starters — three of them from metro Phoenix — return for GCU in 2011-12 under Coach Russ Pennell. The women’s team is coming off of a spectacular 29-3 season in which the Antelopes reached the Sweet 16 in Division II. National Player of the Year Samantha
KYLE SPEED great place to learn, grow and compete for our studentathletes,” Baker said. Men’s basketball always has been big at Grand Canyon, which currently competes in the 10-member Pacific West Conference against schools from Hawaii, California and Utah. The Antelopes won their third of three NAIA championships in 1988 with Paul Westphal as coach. Last January, before a capacity crowd in Antelope Gym and a national-TV audi-
Murphy, the leading scorer in Division II (24.6 points per game) and an Academic All-American as well, has graduated. But several key players return, and Coach Trent May has added an outstanding recruiting class. The Grand Canyon men open at home on Nov. 5 with an exhibition game against Arizona State University. The women open the regular season on Nov. 18 against the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011 • 15
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY 2011-12 MEN’S HOME BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2012 2011 Wed., Jan. 11 Dominican Sat., Nov. 5 Arizona State (ex.) Thurs., Jan. 19 Hawaii Hilo Tues., Nov. 8 San Diego Christian (ex.) Tues., Jan. 24 Hawaii Pacific Wed., Nov. 16 The Master’s Mon., Feb. 13 Academy of Art Fri., Nov. 25 Seattle Pacific Mon., Feb. 20 BYU-Hawaii Sat., Nov. 26 Fort Lewis Notre Dame de Namur Wed., Feb. 22 Chaminade Sat., Dec. 3 Thurs., March 1 California Baptist Sat., Dec. 10 North New Mexico Cal State San Bernadino Sat., March 3 Dixie State Fri., Dec. 16 Sat., Dec. 17 Saint Martin’s Arizona Christian Fri., Dec. 30
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY 2011-12 WOMEN’S HOME BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2012 2011 Wed., Jan., 11 Dominican Thurs., Nov. 3 San Marcos Thurs., Jan. 19 Hawaii Hilo GRAND CANYON TIP-OFF CLASSIC Tues., Jan. 24 Hawaii Pacific Fri., Nov. 18 Nebraska Kearney Mon., Feb. 13 Academy of Art Sat., Nov. 19 Adams State Mon., Feb. 20 BYU-Hawaii GRAND CANYON THANKSGIVING CLASSIC Fri., Nov. 25 SFSU Wed., Feb. 22 Chaminade Sat., Nov. 26 CSU Dominguez Hills Thurs., March 1 California Baptist NDNU Sat., March 3 Dixie State Sat., Dec. 3 Sun., Dec. 18 Simon Fraser Mon., Dec. 19 Simon Fraser
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Grand Canyon University
on their new arena and campus transformation
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16 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
BIG MAN ON CAMPUS
The man behind Chase Field and US Airways brings decades of experience to GCU
B Y G R E M L Y N B R A D L E Y - WA D D E L L
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ob Machen recalled, with a reserved chuckle, how he became acquainted with Grand Canyon University a couple years ago after a board member and longtime friend told him the school could use someone with his expertise. “He called and asked if I would be interested in helping them build an arena,” said the man who was with the Phoenix Suns franchise for 37 years and played a role in the construction of such Phoenix
$40 million architectural marvel with 5,000 seats in the school hues of purple and gray, is home to the Antelandmarks as Chase Field (then Bank One lopes’ men’s and women’s Ballpark), US Airways Center (then Amer- basketball teams but will also ica West Arena) and the Dodge Theatre. host a range of other events, BOB MACHEN “An arena,” he said. “That’s the opera- from intimate lectures to tive word.” large concerts. And then, he notes, there Machen can’t help but be amused as he was the 55,000 square-foot Student Recstops to tick through the list of construcreation Center, Canyon Hall and Prescott tion projects he has overseen at the state’s Hall dormitories, the College of Education only private university since he came on building and Thunder Alley, which houses board in July 2009, all thanks to that initial the student food court and bowling alley. phone call. The showpiece is, of course, But Machen – who left his consulting the recently completed GCU Arena. The firm to become GCU’s senior vice presi-
dent for campus development – isn’t done yet. His other list has current and future projects on it. After all, there’s a new College of Arts and Sciences building to finish and a track to add to the soccer field, as well as an administration building and Camelback Hall dorm on the way. And then there are the other plans he’s presently not at liberty to discuss. What the former right-hand man of Suns’ owner Jerry Colangelo will allude to is that Colangelo – whom Machen is still close to and who is a former member of the GCU board
CONGRATULATIONS Grand Canyon University on your arena!
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of directors – may have “further involvement with the university” at some point in the future. So stay tuned. As Machen celebrates his 70th birthday this month, he’s clearly excited for the future. One reason for his enthusiasm is GCU’s Christian heritage. Machen, who became a Christian about 30 years ago, calls working at GCU one of the highlights of his life. He adds that he and his wife of 40 years, Peggy, have two grown children and he hopes to one day see the grandkids attend the West Valley campus. “I am so blessed and grateful,” Machen said. “I really like the people I work for, THERE ARE MANY REASONS STUDENTS HAVE TO SMILE, AS THE GCU CAMPUS CONTINUES TO TRANSFORM. and I love what I’m doing.”
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18 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
THE CURTAIN OPENS AT ETHINGTON THEATRE After going dark, theater roars back with an impressive slate of shows
BY S UZA N N E W R I G H T
turn the financial ship around — which we did, very well,” here’s no sophomore said Claude Pensis, dean of slump here. the College of Fine Arts and In just its second season Production at GCU. “We’re after a “hiatus” necessitated happy to be creating again. by financial hardship five It’s incredibly exciting and years ago, Grand Canyon CLAUDE PENSIS exhilarating. We came back University’s Ethington Thewith more than we had before.” atre has an ambitious 2011-2012 season The season kicked off with the popular planned for its patrons. “We had to put the programs on the shelf musical You Can’t Take It With You and will close with The Boy Friend on for a while, until the school was able to
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April 22. The theater boasts just 311 seats, making it an intimate experience. “Our goal is to entertain and educate,” Pensis said. “We slave over choosing a wide variety of plays to offer to provide synergy between our performers and our audience.” Still, many don’t know that the Ethington Theatre is one of the Valley’s most polished venues. Pensis says a number of his good friends who are theater professionals praise the environment as open and comfortable from the moment you walk in. “We’d rather not be a secret,” Pensis said. “We’d rather have everybody know ONSTAGE AT THE ETHINGTON THEATRE about us.”
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Lineup keeps theater relevant for audiences of all ages ETHINGTON THEATRE Grand Canyon University 3300 West Camelback Road, Phoenix Box Office: (602) 639-8880 www.gcu.edu Upcoming: “Dracula” Oct. 21-22, Oct. 28-29; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 30; 2 p.m.
Claude Pensis, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Production at GCU, talks with Suzanne Wright about the Ethington Theatre’s 2011-2012 season.
QUESTION: You’ve announced quite an audacious lineup. Tell us a bit about each play. ANSWER: We’ve tried to find five productions that are seasonally interesting. We’ve chosen some well-known crowd-pleasers and some less well-known works that will challenge our actors — and the audience. Amahl and the Night Visitors is a holiday favorite. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer
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Night’s Dream is a perennial favorite and the Victorian-era Dracula has been adapted for contemporary audiences — perfect for Halloween. The musical The Boy Friend is a bubbly American chestnut set in the 1920s; it should be a kick. Q: GCU is a Christian university. Does that play a role in your choice of productions? A: We are training our students to work in a secular world. And part of that is to grapple with challenging material like Dracula, to do that in a context that is appropriate for a family-friendly venue. Q: Ethington has an impressive 60-year
history. But how do you attract a younger audience that might opt to see a movie? A: I love movies, but what you’re seeing is something static. It’s not a living, breathing performance. In live theater, the actors feed the audience and the audience reaction feeds the actors. It’s symbiotic. Q: Many of us are watching our entertainment expenditures these days. Why is Ethington a good entertainment value? A: Season tickets are inexpensive — a package of five shows runs $40, or $8 each. It’s cheaper than a movie. And at intermission, we actually sell popcorn!
CONGRATULATIONS GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY
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