April 11, 2008

The Purdue board of trustees today approved construction of the Mackey Arena complex renovation and addition, with a total budget of $99.5 million.

Athletics director Morgan Burke said the 278,000-square-foot complex will eliminate the need to construct three new buildings that would have cost approximately $275 million.

"This project will bring Mackey Arena into the 21st century in terms of program space, fan amenities and accessibility," Burke said. "The addition to this 1967 landmark will remedy deficiencies in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and strength and conditioning facilities, as well as locker rooms."

The Athletics Department, which is self-supporting and receives no tax dollars, will pay for the project completely with gifts, increased concession and premium seating revenue, and income generated from the Big Ten Network and other conference television funds.

The complex will include additional meeting, office and study space, and also relocate football practice fields and parking areas. Appropriate landscaping will be added throughout the complex.

Burke said $22 million of the needed $32 million in gift funds has been raised, and the remaining amount will be included as part of the university's Access and Success Phase I capital campaign to be launched this summer.

The Mackey Complex project will be broken out into four bid packages:

* Moving the Grand Prix track to the area west of campus near the intersection of McCormick Road and Cherry Lane

* Utilities and site preparation

* Mackey additions and renovations

* Intercollegiate Athletic Facility renovations and landscaping

For more detailed information on the Mackey Complex project, click mackeyrenovation.com.

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