The last time Franklin College opened an indoor athletic facility was 1975, when the Spurlock Center, which now houses the college’s basketball and volleyball teams, was built.
Now, nearly half a century later, student-athletes — as well as other students and staff — have a new sports complex to forward to. Officials broke ground on the Johnson Memorial Health Athletic Annex Wednesday, and expect the facility to open in about a year.
The more than $1 million, 10,819 square-foot facility will include retractable batting cages for baseball and softball teams, as well as men’s and women’s golf. When the batting cages are not in use, athletes from a variety of sports can use a new turf field to practice, according to a Franklin College news release.
Elkhart-based architecture and engineering firm Jones Petrie Rafinski designed the building, while Columbus-based contractor Dunlap General + Mechanical Contractors will lead the project, according to the release.
Johnson Memorial Health donated $1 million, which will pay for most of the facility. The remainder will be funded by a donation from Indiana University head football coach Tom Allen, whose father was a member of the Franklin College football team in 1958. The Allen family chose not to make the donation amount public.
The athletic annex and Tom Allen Weight Room will be a game-changer for the 21 men’s and women’s sports teams at the college, as well as health-conscious students and staff who have had to juggle schedules with athletes.
The new building will allow sports teams to practice without having to travel to off-campus facilities, said Kerry Prather, the college’s president.
“More than 44% of students participate in athletics; this is a recommitment to the focus on health of both mind and body, and a focus on holistic education for Franklin College students,” Prather said. “To our student-athletes, we are inspired by the dedication and hard work you invest in pursuing excellence in your respective sports. We hope this facility will enhance those efforts in the years to come.”
The building represents a commitment to student-athletes and Franklin College students in general, said Andy Hendricks, the college’s athletics director.
“This is so much more than a singular event,” Hendricks said. “It represents an investment in our students and in the future of athletics.”
The athletics annex is the latest chapter of a partnership between the college and Johnson Memorial, which includes undergraduate internships and clinical experiences for graduate students, said Dr. David Dunkle, CEO and President of Johnson Memorial Health.
“We talked about how we could partner together, and discussions began to center around the college expanding their facilities. With the hospital embracing the idea of wellness for people of all ages, it seemed like a natural fit for all parties,” Dunkle said. “This is the biggest thing we have collaborated on — ever.”
