Arkansas Tech University celebrated the beginning of construction for its new multi-sports complex with a groundbreaking ceremony at its Russellville campus on Thursday, March 16.
“Over the next year, a beautiful new structure will rise here, beyond the left-field wall at Tech Field,” said ATU President Dr. Robin E. Bowen during the ceremony. “The multi-sports complex will include a locker room and coaches’ offices for our baseball program. There will be an indoor practice space and a conference room that will be utilized for a wide variety of purposes.
“One of the primary benefits of this structure will be providing a climate-controlled area for our spring sports teams to practice. By providing those student-athletes and coaches with a facility of this caliber, they will be prepared to help us maintain our position as the top overall athletics program in the Great American Conference.”
The Arkansas Tech baseball, softball, tennis and golf programs will all make regular use of the indoor practice space. It is anticipated that additional intercollegiate athletics programs at Tech and students from the Department of Health and Physical Education will also utilize the facility.
The ATU Board of Trustees voted in December 2016 to award a construction contract in the amount of $3.5 million to low bidder Cline Construction Group of North Little Rock for the construction of the complex. AMR Architects of Little Rock designed the structure.
Funding for the project will be provided by private donations and existing university reserves. The facility is scheduled to open in spring 2018.
