Carver Strength Center to get $300,000 facelift

After serving the strength training and conditioning needs of the Augustana athletic department since it was opened in 2004, the Carver Strength Center will undergo major renovation soon.

A planned $300,000 upgrade was announced today by Mike Zapolski, director of athletics. The fundraising project will be spearheaded by Kyle Ekberg, athletics gift officer.

When it was originally added on to the Carver Center in the summer of 2004, the Strength Center accommodated the 21 varsity sports that made up the Augustana athletic department at that time. Since then the number of sports has grown to 25 and it serves more than 700 Viking student-athletes.
 
"The current space needs a complete overhaul to put our athletic programs in the best position possible in the highly competitive College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin," said Zapolski. "This is an area that gets constant use from our athletic teams and the improvements are much-needed and will be put to good use."

The plans include new weight apparatus throughout the room, weight-room specific flooring, rearrangement of the layout to accommodate the 700 Augustana athletes, and space for warm up/cool down and agility training.
 
The $300,000 goal will be met through the generosity of alumni and friends of Augustana athletics. To date, $120,000 has been raised/allocated to the project. The date for the grand opening for the renovated Carver Strength Center is contingent on the fund-raising goal being met.

For more information, contact Kyle Ekberg.