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DC Field House sketch
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DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College Board of Trustees voted its approval at the April board meeting for the College to move forward with construction of a multi-million dollar field house. This new approximately 80,000-square-foot facility will dramatically improve the College’s athletic facilities, providing significantly expanded indoor practice areas for the College’s athletic teams while also benefitting the entire Defiance community.
The facility will feature a six-lane NCAA-approved track, with accommodation for other track and field events, practice areas suitable for football, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, golf and other sports, provisions for indoor tennis courts, and a fitness center that will benefit the entire DC campus as well as members of the broader community.
“All of us at Defiance College are thrilled that this long-held dream is now about to become a reality.” said Mark C. Gordon, Defiance College President. “This new facility will benefit students, faculty, and staff, help DC attract and retain quality students, improve our overall sports program, and provide much-needed additional space for student recreation and fitness. It will also enable the College to host a series of meets and other events that can bring added economic activity to Defiance.”
The approval by the board gives the college the ability to begin the formal process for seeking local city approval of the College’s plans as well as to begin the bidding process for developers to build the new facility. “We hope to move as quickly as possible in working out the necessary details with the city and in moving toward a groundbreaking,” said President Gordon. “We are also continuing our fundraising efforts so that this facility can be fully-funded when construction begins.”
“The new DC field house will be a great addition to the community and an opportunity to benefit the local economy,” said Defiance Mayor Bob Armstrong. “The community will benefit in many ways from this multimillion dollar investment, including having an expanded fitness center as well as increased economic activity both through construction and being able to host future events here in Defiance. This is very good news for our city at a time when expanded economic investment in our city is particularly important.”
The planned location of the new field house will be next to the Weaner Community Center located on Webster Street. It will be the largest facility of its kind in Northwest Ohio.
“We expect the new field house to be a vital center of activity as our campus takes advantage of its many features. We are also eager to host high school and NCAA track meets as well as a range of other activities. The entire Defiance College Board of Trustees is very excited to be able to move forward with this facility. DC is truly a college on the move!” said Phil Mallott, Board of Trustees chairman.
Incoming board chair Rita Kissner said, “I am personally extremely gratified by the Board’s strong support for moving forward with this project. DC is a significant part of the community and we are very pleased that we can contribute to the increased vitality of the community in this way.”
For more information about making tax-deductible donations to the Defiance College field house, contact the office of institutional advancement at 419-783-2572 or visit the DC website at www.defiance.edu.
Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement.
April 28, 2010
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