Construction under way for basketball facility
As you may now know, all of this was done to make way for the new men's and women's basketball practice facility. The 50,000 plus square foot building will be a jaw-dropper from both outside and in.
"This is a basketball-oriented conference, and we want to compete in every sport," said Tom Gabbard, the Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs.
"The schools we are competing against for the most part all have a basketball practice facility, so if you're going to recruit the kind of athlete that can play in the conference you need to compete from a facilities aspect as well as a competitor's aspect," Gabbard said.
Gabbard continued on to discuss the cost of the project, "There will be a little debt on it, but it'll be very short term." The Athletic Department has raised almost half of the $21 million required for construction through cash donations, helping to dent this anticipated debt.
The two-story building will be covered in Hokie Stone defining it as property of the university and use of the facility will be restricted to Virginia Tech athletes and administration only.
It is not your regular gymnasium. Equipped with the latest in athletic training, the building will be a fantastic resource for both the athletes and coaches as they prepare for opposing teams.
On the ground level there will be two full sized-basketball courts which will contain a divider between them to allow for separate or joint use. Together the two courts have eight shooting areas for maximum participation during practice sessions.
The first floor will also contain a 3,000 square foot weight room, hydro room, men's and women's locker rooms, classrooms and lounges.
Gabbard said that it was imperative to have identical square footage and lay out for both the men and women. This is not only for the athletes but also identical offices for all administration.
The second floor will contain the coaches' offices, including a common area with a view directly above the two courts. This area can be used for pre-game meals, recruiting weekends, parents, etc.
Coach Seth Greenberg and Coach Beth Dunkenberger will have access to a balcony to the right and left of the common room over looking each practice court.
A second entrance to the balcony is attached to each team's reception area in order recruits or visitors to view practice without interruption.
Electronically, the film room is connected to two remote control cameras, one for each court, in order to film practice and analyze the teams' technical and physical performances.
The front of the building, facing Washington Street, will contain a panoramic window on the second floor that will be lit at all times, allowing onlookers to view detailed graphics of the activity within.
The basketball courts themselves will be made to resemble the quality of the court within Cassell Coliseum. Older models, such as the court within Cassell, contain springs beneath the actual wood.
These springs allow for a softer floor that will recover from an impression in the appropriate time to avoid injury to the ankle or knee.
The floor within the new practice facility will contain a soft padding beneath the court to simulate the game floor as closely as possible. This also makes the court equally as safe for the athletes.
"It speaks volumes for a tangible commitment the university is making towards our basketball program" Greenberg said.
Despite the addition of this coveted resource, Greenberg's goal for the team remains the same — make the NCAA tournament and advance.
"We've had some success and now we have a chance to have a stand alone building that reflects the goals of our program," Greenberg said.
The tennis courts that were torn down will be relocated to the recreational softball fields.
