N.C. State is the only ACC team in the Triangle that does not have an indoor practice facility to accommodate its football program.

According to Michael Lipitz, senior associate athletic director, N.C. State is planning to open an indoor practice facility near Carter-Finley Stadium by the 2015 season. The budget for the privately funded project is $14 million.

Athletics Director Debbie Yow told the News & Observer that private funding for the building will come from the Wolfpack Club.

Lipitz said the facility will also be used by other teams. 

“It provides a true indoor practice space for all the other field sports when the need arises,” Lipitz said. “It’s going to benefit not only football, but track and field and also all of our other field sports.”

“Whether we’re talking soccer, baseball, softball—they’ll all be able to have that opportunity to get in there and utilize it in inclement weather.”

ACC newcomer Syracuse announced that it will build a $17 million, 87,000 square foot indoor football practice facility. Virginia and Florida State also opened new indoor facilities this season.

“2015 is the target [completion date],” Lipitz said. “Certainly if we’re fortunate enough to accelerate the timetable we’ll try to do that. I think in terms of timing, when you look around the Triangle schools, both UNC and Duke have an indoor and if you look across the league the overwhelming majority of ACC schools have them.”

Lipitz, who joined N.C. State in 2011, said the facility has been talked about for a number of years but was officially identified as a project two years ago.

“We have two projects that have been put in queue– the Reynolds renovation and then this indoor practice facility,” Lipitz said. “Those are the two big projects that athletics will pursue in this capital campaign.”

According to Lipitz, the facility will include a 120-yard regulation size football practice field, along with sprint lanes, ground pits and pads for track and field athletes.

“Whenever you think of a practice facility, you think of a traditional practice with a team out there,” Lipitz said. “We really anticipate it being one of the most utilized [facilities] year round because you have traditional practice but you also have strength and conditioning training workouts.”

“In terms of the strength and conditioning programs, that’s going to be something where that program can utilize it for all 23 varsity sports.”

The facility will not only provide protection from inclement weather, according to Lipitz, but will offer a year-round facility.