NC State athletics will undergo major changes this spring with renovations to Reynolds Coliseum and construction of an indoor training facility located near Carter Finley Stadium.
“From the standpoint of student athletes, we want them to have a place to be proud to train in,” said Mike Lipitz, senior associate athletics director. “To be successful in the ACC and nationally, we want our teams to have first class facilities.”
Reynolds Coliseum has not been under major renovation in almost 65 years, since its construction in 1949, according to Lipitz.
“The entire facility will go into complete overhaul in everything from basic amenities like air conditioning and handrails to more modern ones like a new center-home video board and LED scoring,” Lipitz said.
Also on the agenda for Reynolds includes an entire resizing of the arena. Currently, there are 8,300 seats but will be reduced to 5,500 seats to make room for a NC State Walk of Fame and History that will recognize athletics’ history and tradition.
“This will be a place to tell the story of the Wolfpack,” Lipitz said. “It will introduce the rich history of the red and white.”
Current and heritage varsity sports, memorable student athletes, coaches and special contributors will all be recognized there, according to Lipitz.
“Part of what this renovation is to do is celebrate past accomplishments,” Lipitz said. “Every sport will be recognized and represented.”
Other additions will include upgraded restrooms, widened concourses and aisles, more points of selling merchandise and a new entrance way. One of the biggest goals of the project is to preserve the character of Reynolds, according to Lipitz.
“We’re striking the balance between modern amenities but keeping the historical touches that makes Reynolds what is,” Lipitz said.
Because the lack of air conditioning and other basic amenities prevented Reynolds from hosting various student events, the idea is for the renovated space to be used not only as the home facility for gymnastics, wrestling and women’s basketball, but also as a gathering space for large-scale events such as convocation, graduation, keynote addresses, concerts and shows, according to Lipitz.
NC State athletics hopes it will be a central gathering place at the heart of campus and anticipates lots of foot traffic with both its completion and the completion of Talley Student Union.
Across campus, construction of an indoor training facility for the football and track and field teams is taking place. Currently, when there is inclement weather, the team still trains, but practice is affected.
“It’s painful,” said Jerod Fernandez, a sophomore studying communication and a linebacker on the football team. “If it’s really cold, your mind isn’t going to be in practice. It’s going to be on the weather.”
The indoor training facility will include a full 120-yard football field, training and conditioning spaces, a straight four-lane track running on both sides of the football field and equipment for triple-jump, long jump and high jump, according to gopack.com.
Indoor training facilities have become the norm, both in the ACC and nationally, and this will be one of the best in the country, according to Lipitz.
“This is an upgrade for not only the football department but the university, as well,” Fernandez said. “Most D1 schools already have a facility like this.”
The budget for this project is $14 million, all privately funded by the Wolfpack Club donors. The budget for the Reynolds Coliseum renovations is $35 million, with $20 million also privately funded by the Wolfpack Club and $15 million funded by the university.
The Reynolds Coliseum renovations will begin after the last women’s basketball game and are expected to end August 2016. The indoor training facility is expected to be completed in the spring of this year.
