EVANSVILLE - For the first time since it opened on the University of Southern Indiana campus in 1980, the Physical Activities Center, or PAC, will get its first makeover.
At their regular meeting on Thursday morning, USI Board of Trustees approved what Mark Rozewski described as a “routine authorization” for the $16 million PAC renovation and possible expansion project.
Rozewski, USI’s vice president for finance and administration, reported to the board that this will allow the project to move forward through a variety of necessary approval processes. A tentative timeline includes an architect to be selected by the end of this year, with construction to begin in late 2015.
Rozewski told the board the university hasn’t had a “project of this scale for a while.”
“It’s due,” he said. “This is the typical life cycle for a university building. It’s over 40 years old and it is just plain time to make this kind of investment.”
Currently, the PAC houses classroom space for physical education and recreation programs, as well as offices for the Athletic Department and Kinesiology and Sport Department.
The building includes three regulation basketball courts, aquatics area with swimming pool, specialized physical education and service facilities, classrooms, locker rooms and team rooms, and multi-purpose activity areas. The PAC’s arena has a 2,278 seating capacity, or an estimated 2,600 for standing room. The arena is the home court for the Screaming Eagles’ indoor sports programs.
USI officials said definite plans for the PAC have not yet been approved. However, since the building has not been renovated since it was built, Rozewski said upgrades will include building systems and structure, functionality and aesthetics.