Saint Mary’s Breaks Ground on Athletic Center

The facility is expected to be complete in the fall of 2017.

Saint Mary’s College has broken ground on the new Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex. The facility is the result of a $25 million fundraising effort to renovate and expand the college’s current athletic center and fields. 

Saint Mary’s says when completed, the complex will have a total of 105,000 square feet, more than twice the size of the college’s current facility. Construction is scheduled to begin in the middle of May and be completed in the fall of 2017.

"To begin the construction phase of the project has been a dream of my presidency," said Carol Ann Mooney, who is retiring as the college’s president on May 31. "I know that the Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex will not only attract new students, but it will enhance the overall experience for every one of our students. It is a true joy to see the hard work and contributions of so many of our alumnae and friends begin to take shape."

Saint Mary’s says the goal of the new complex is to have one location on campus for everyone to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It will have offices that will provide students with doctor’s clinics, allergy and flu shots, prescription distribution, counseling and other services. The complex will also have expanded court and field spaces, along with additional fitness space.

As part of the project, the college broke ground last April for the $4.5 million Patricia Wiedner Purcell Athletic Fields, construction for which is complete. Te work included adding soccer, lacrosse and softball fields, along with lighting, scoreboards and press boxes for each field, among other amenities.

The project is a part of the "Faith Always, Action Now" campaign, which raised $105 million.

Athletes have not played on the fields yet because the grass needs to be adequately established.