Physical Education Complex Groundbreaking Ceremony- Presenting of Building Permit c. 1980

Item Information

Title:
Physical Education Complex Groundbreaking Ceremony- Presenting of Building Permit c. 1980
Description:
This picture displays Springfield College President Wilbert E. Locklin (third from the right) presenting the building permit for the new Physical Education (PE) Complex at the Groundbreaking Ceremony that took place on February 11, 1980. Danielle Schiffer (far left), a member of the Springfield College track team, ran as part of a five-member relay team from City Hall to the campus construction site. Each of the members of the relay team ran a half-mile and literally “raced against time” to deliver the baton which contained the building permit for the college’s new $5.3 million PE Complex. Also pictured (second from the left) is the project’s architect, Alfred P. Casella of Agawam. The contractor for the building, Donald A. Sullivan, of D.A. Sullivan Sons, Inc. of Northampton, is pictured on the far right. The Dedication Ceremony took place the following year, on October 30, 1981. The PE Complex at Springfield College was built to replace the Memorial Field House, which was demolished due to structural problems in May, 1979. At the time, the facility was the largest construction project in the college’s history. The PE Complex consisted of four distinct facilities: the Art Linkletter Natatorium, a graceful steel arch roof structure with an Olympic-sized pool, a part of the college since its official dedication on October 21, 1967; Blake Arena, a massive three-story dome measuring 180 feet in diameter and extending 44 feet above the playing surface that is still used as the main venue for basketball and volleyball among other activities; the Winston Paul Academic Center that includes two teaching gymnasiums (Dana Gymnasium and Kresge Gymnasium), a wrestling room (Douglas Parker Wrestling Room), and eight handball/ racquetball courts): and the Keith Locker and Training Facility. The Art Linkletter Natatorium, which originally opened in 1967, was connected to the other structures by a 95-foot “skywalk.” The total combined space of the PE Complex was 143,000 square feet. The $5.3 million building was funded by the Capital Campaign headed by Art Linkletter. The PE Complex was primarily an educational facility where students took classes in Physical Education, Sports Medicine, and Health Fitness in order to prepare them for “human helping professions,” such as YMCA executives, athletic trainers, and coaches. The PE Complex is now part of the new Wellness and Recreation Complex that was opened in 2008. The Wellness and Recreation Complex includes the Wellness Center, Field House, and Athletic Training/ Exercise Science facility, accounting for an additional 160,560 square feet of instructional, athletic, and recreational space. Text on back of photograph reads "Relay race kick off of construction- L to R: student Danielle Shiffer, Casella, WEL, Sullivan"
Date:
February 12, 1980
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Subjects:
Springfield College
Springfield College--Buildings
Physical Education Complex
Springfield College--Presidents
Springfield College--Track and field
Springfield College--Track and field--women
Casella, Alfred P.
Schiffer, Danielle
Locklin, Wilbert E. (Wilbert Edwin)
Springfield (Mass.)
Ground breaking ceremonies
Running races
Racing
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/6079
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Identifier:
rg135-01-01-12-001