General | 4/27/2023 4:55:00 PM
FAIRBANKS - All hands are on deck as the University of Alaska Fairbanks began the large-scale renovation of the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium in the Patty Center this last week. In order to modernize and help with athlete injury prevention, the gym will undergo full redevelopment and be out of commission till next fall semester. From floor to ceiling, this construction project is proving to be one of the largest in the gym's history, with the last renovation being done in 2014.
The focus of this improvement lies on reconstructing the 40-year-old floor, installing a new ceiling with LED lights and a substantial refresh of the gym's overall attractiveness by updating the floor and wall padding with modern designs.
After almost two years of designing, fundraising and planning, the proposed upgrades were confirmed by Chancellor Dan White as well as Vice Chancellor Nettie LaBelle-Hamer.
"Facilities in any institution always have opportunities for upgrades," said White. "The Patty Center renovation is part of a much larger strategy to address facility rehabilitation replacement. It's truly one piece of a much larger puzzle."
This nearly $1 million dollar puzzle piece is largely being funded by the support from the Fairbanks community, which has played a significant role in the push towards updated facilities for the athletics programs as well as local organizations that will use the court.
"The really cool part about it is that it is partially being donated by two UAF donors, who contributed greatly in kickstarting community giving," said UAF Athletic Director Brock Anundson.
Past planning and gathering enough funds to cover such a large project, the design and construction teams that have been set together to put nearly a year of planning into action, have worked countless hours to be on schedule for court's August 1 unveiling.
"It was really intense during the initial design process," said UAF Director of Design and Construction Cameron Wohlford. Wohlford also said that of all the construction projects on campus, this project is in the upper 20% for size.
"We have deadlines to meet," said Superintendent of Alcan Builders Andrew Beals. "The process has been smooth sailing, so we are actually ahead of schedule."
Upwards of 50 people have been involved in the entire renovation process thus far. From project proposal to the smallest of details, the university and construction crews are working together to make sure that everything gets done.
"We knew of all the potentialities of setbacks before we came in, like trying to match 50-year-old trim, which we did by custom making our own," said Beals.
The last time that the gym floor was replaced in the Patty Center was in 1983. The age of the floor is suspected to have had an impact on the rate of student-athlete injuries, according to UAF Head Athletic Trainer, Palmer Trolli.
"Under the floor there is a padding, and over time the padding breaks down which gives the floor a different feel," said Trolli. "By replacing not just the coat on top of the wood but also the underfloor, we would like to see a decrease in injuries."
According to the National Library of Medicine's study, Epidemiology of Sports-Related Injuries and Associated Risk Factors, those that said they competed in facilities that were in poor condition, had obstructions, bad lighting, low ventilation and inadequate flooring reported a higher injury rate than those with sports facilities in a good condition.
"The interest was sparked for renovation by student athletes that thought their injuries were from the floor," said Anundson. "You want athletes to compete in a facility that they will not only enjoy coming to everyday but feel safe doing so."
"Outside of following basic building codes and NCAA court regulations, we are providing athletes a safe surface to play on while creating something really cool that people will be excited about," said Wohlford.
Outside of the need for renovation to avoid athlete injuries, "Having a refreshed and new look makes for a more modern atmosphere that student-athletes will enjoy competing in, a visually appealing experience for the fans in the Fairbanks community and give an additional reason for potential recruits to compete for the Nanooks," according to Anundson.
"It's truly going to be the new thing to see in Fairbanks," said Anundson. "It starts as a temple and then becomes more about the people inside."
"This upgraded facility will not only improve the fan and game day experience, but it will make people want to come back and support Nanook Athletics," said White.
The timing of this renovation relied heavily on the schedules of the athletic teams at UAF, as construction could not begin until all home-court events were finished.
With construction progressing every day, the newly renovated Alaska Airlines Gymnasium is suspected to be finished and ready for competition by August 1, 2023.
