The Renovation and Expansion of Gammon Gymnasium

When the College’s master plan for facilities was adopted in 1999 it was planned that the intercollegiate athletic teams would be moved to an enlarged Gammon. The exception to this was basketball which was to remain in Kirby Fieldhouse. This transition was planned to occur in three phases.

Phase I was the construction of a weight room for the use of the intercollegiate athletic teams. In addition this phase included the construction of a new locker room for the visiting teams and improvements in the mechanical systems for heating and cooling the space. A new conference room ws also included in this phase. This phase was completed in 2003.

Phase II consists of the addition of a 12,000 square foot wing on the east side of Gammon.  The ground floor of this wing includes a locker room for baseball and laundry facilities for all athletic teams. Also included on this level are toilet facilities for spectators attending athletic functions. And, most importantly the Hall of Fame is located here. New plaques are being made and state of the art visual presentations prepared. This will become a “must see” stop for campus visitors when it opens next fall.

The second level in the Phase II addition consists of offices for the coaches and support staff.

The third level contains two large classrooms and three seminar rooms. These will be available for use by the academic departments and athletic staff.

Phase III consists of a new 12,000 square foot addition on the south side of Gammon and the renovation of the entire 24,000 square foot existing building. The new wing will contain locker rooms for lacrosse and soccer as well as football and an expanded training room. Perhaps one of the most dramatic improvements will be the work planned for the gym. This area will be heated and air conditioned with auditorium type seating for 500. In addition the gym will be made acoustically correct and the maple floor restored to its former grandeur. This area will also be a “must see” stop for campus visitors, particularly for those of us who played in gyms like this in earlier years.

The west (football) wing will be renovated for the football staff which is now temporarily housed in Kirby Fieldhouse in the areas previously occupied by the coaches that moved to the new Gammon space. Phase III is slated for completion in time for the dedication of the Hall of Fame and Phases II and III in October, 2008.

This is the first time in the history of the College that each team had its own locker room and showers. Each locker room has direct access to the exterior. Thus there will be no team using interior corridors. One of the most difficult aspects of all new construction is dealing with the extremely poor soil conditions that exist in the area. The stabilization of the soil before construction could begin was accomplished by extensive use of  piles driven into the ground.

Architect’s rendering of the west entrance as seen from College Road.
The new south wing is at right.

Architect’s rendering of the new two-part east wing, at right. The new east entrance,
center, leads to the Athletic Hall of Fame Gallery.