Activity Center
Oskaloosa-- President Sours has referred to the future site of
the Penn Activity Center (PAC) as "the biggest hole in Iowa," but over the past couple of weeks it has come to look like a true construction site. With foundation walls rising up
out of that hole, it is now far easier to visualize the new facility and its enormity.
At 51,000 square feet the activity center will be more than twice the size of Penn Hall and will provide space for everything from intramurals and dances to graduation,
convocations, and other academic ceremonies. The building will be 160 feet wide, 320 feet long and 60 feet high. On the east end there will be an additional 30' by 60' and two
stories of classrooms and office space. It will house three basketball courts, approximately 50 yards of artificial turf flooring and an elevated exercise track above the main
floor. A geothermal heating and air conditioning system will make the center energy efficient.
A connecting building between the existing gymnasium and the PAC will be an L shaped structure three stories high with 20,000 square feet on each floor. The lowest level will be
locker and shower rooms (some for team use and some for use by others who are using the activity center). The upper two floors will contain some public meeting space, lounge areas,
and a lot of space for classrooms and offices.
A third new building to be constructed is a technology center that will provide state of the art equipment for the Industrial Technology program as well as new space and equipment
for a digital communications program. This building of approximately 20,000 square feet will be located north of the west end of Watson Hall in the general vicinity of what was the
maintenance building area.
Athletics Director Mike Laird, a 1975 graduate of Penn, is understandably excited about the plans that will certainly give his alma mater a strong edge in athletics recruiting and
allow the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen sports teams a tremendously-impressive facility to practice if needed.
"All of our athletic teams will be greatly affected by this facility," Laird said. "Due to the enormity and comprehensivness of the features of the building, this should place
William Penn athletics at or near the top of all small colleges and universities in the region."
Penn currently sponsors 15 intercollegiate programs on the Oskaloosa campus that enrolls over 700 undergraduate students. The PAC is also expected to alleviate considerable
pressures off the coaches for scheduling and finding adequate area to practice.
"The focus of a William Penn University education has always been on the success of our students," Sours emphasized, "but our current facilities do not allow for the best student
experience. This initiative is 'phase one' of a comprehensive campus makeover."
Highlighted in future plans will be the renovation of historic Spencer Chapel, the icon of the university.
Other parts of the comprehensive campus improvement plan include Penn Hall; Lewis, Eltse and Watson residences; Wilcox Library; Atkins Memorial Union; McGrew Fine Arts Center;
Rosenberger Apartments; and the Gymnasium.
"These improvements to campus facilities will only enrich the quality of the student experience at William Penn. It's an exciting time for the university," Sours said.
