Cavalier Corner

October 2018

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14 CAVALIER CORNER tained effort from everyone to get to the finish line, but I am very hopeful because of the passion I've seen from supporters who absolutely love the University of Virginia." At a June meeting in the Rotunda, Alice Raucher, the University of Virginia's archi- tect, reviewed the proposed master plan with the Board of Visitors' Building and Grounds Committee. Later, Raucher went over the plan in more detail with the full board, which then unanimously approved the proposal. "Every time I've had the opportunity to talk to our donors about it, I think everyone has understood that we're constructing some- thing to meet the needs of our student-ath- letes," Williams said. "It is not in our nature to do anything excessive. Our facilities will be functional and meet the needs of our student- athletes and staff. That's just who we are." The athletics precinct on North Grounds, which encompasses 82.4 acres, currently includes John Paul Jones Arena, the McCue Center, University Hall, Onesty Hall, the Cage, the George Welsh Indoor Practice Facility, Davenport Field at Disharoon Park, Lannigan Field, Klöckner Stadium and a sports medicine building. University Hall, Onesty, the Cage and the sports medicine facility will be demolished by the spring of 2019. Asbestos abatement in U-Hall, Onesty and the Cage must occur before demolition can begin. Most of the coaches, staffers and student- athletes who use those buildings are being relocated to locker rooms and offices in temporary modular units in the Cage park- ing lot. The wrestling team is moving to Memorial Gymnasium, where the volleyball team already was based. Williams said she hopes at least two of the new natural grass fields will be ready before the fall of 2020. Currently, the foot- ball team must travel to Lambeth Field or Scott Stadium to practice on natural grass. The new practice fields, coupled with the new operations center, will allow the football team to prepare and train more efficiently. "It's a race against the clock every day," Mendenhall said. "Every football team has the exact same number of hours [under NCAA rules]. The teams that can teach most effectively, can transition most effec- tively, have the resources to enhance perfor- mance most effectively, and attract players to their programs have the best chance to have success." Ideally, Williams said, construction of the football operations center and Olympic sports center would begin in 2020. "It'll take at least two years to build those facilities," Williams said. "And so hopefully by the summer of 2022 we would have those completed and be able to move in, and then we could start the renovation of McCue." That timetable, Williams stressed, is "a The addition of a pedestrian promenade provides connectivity from Central Grounds to North Grounds. Proposed view at Goodwin Bridge. RENDERING COURTESY UVA The promenade creates opportunities for the recognition of UVA athletics legends and also allows for the recognition of dedicated donors whose financial support helped make this project a reality. Proposed view of sports promenade. RENDERING COURTESY UVA Rendering subject to change Rendering subject to change

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