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NEWS AERIAL VIEW OF ARMSTRONG COMPLEX
ARENA–The current arena in Armstrong Gymnasium seats 1,400; the renovation calls for an additional 700 seats. EXPANSION AREA–Armstrong contains about 37,000 gross square feet; the addition would bring the total area to 98,300.
THURSDAY, NOV. 1, 2012
College digs into $13 million investment Ashley Swanson
CONFERENCE ROOMS–The Armstrong renovation plan calls for two conference/meeting rooms in the northern tip of the gym.
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NEW PARKING LOT–The Armstrong Complex is projected to feature a driveway around the building and some parking spaces to the south.
Infographic by T.J. Thomson | Architectural renderings by Leo A. Daly
An aerial view of campus with the Armstrong facility and its proposed expansion in the southwestern corner marked.
A view of the southwest entrance to the proposed Armstrong Complex expansion and plaza illustrates the architectural look of the $13 million renovation and expansion project.
After Saturday’s homecoming football victory against New Mexico Highlands, players, community members, students, band members, staff, and faculty crowded in an area east of Elliot Field to break ground on the 98,300 square feet renovation and expansion of the Armstrong Complex. Plans for the expanded gym include 2,100 seats in the upgraded arena, up 700 from the current 1,400-seat space. The physical imprint of the building would also more than double from its current total of 37,000 to 98,300. Interim President Randy Rhine began the groundbreaking ceremony by thanking those who assisted in bringing the complex to this stage, including legislators who appropriated $6.7 million in funding for the project. Rhine said that the expanded facility would equal or exceed any in the RMAC. Rhine also mentioned that he, along with many others, hope that the new addition to Armstrong will help make the facility more inviting for visitors, students, and athletes. Also present at the ceremony was former CSC president Janie Park, during whose tenure the college raised more than $16 million in the Vision 2011 fundraising campaign. Multiple other speakers including Brad Smith, director of athletics; Randy Bauer, Vision 2011 co-chair and CSC alumnus; women’s basketball team forward Sadie Waugh, senior of Paxton; and football team cornerback Lane Haller, sophomore of Gordon, echoed Rhine’s gratitude, but also spoke about how excited they were for the new renovations to commence. “Not only do our future athletes deserve this, so do our community, our fans, and everyone who supports us,” Waugh said. “Thanks again to everybody who has helped bring this together.” Bauer said that the college has been waiting a while for this to happen, and now that it is, he is excited for the finished project. A loud applause broke through the crowd as the ceremony ended with a line of 10 CSC members shoveling dirt to officially break ground on the complex.