Construction is under way on two facilities that will provide recreation and athletic training opportunities on the West Burlington campus.
The two-story, $5 million Blackhawk Recreation Center will feature a multi-purpose court for team sports and an athletic training room. The second floor exercise room and elevated walking track will look over the main court.
“We want to offer our students a well-rounded college experience,” explained Joan Williams, vice president of student services. “This will significantly expand the types of activities we can provide to students.”
The project is being underwritten in large part by the COVID Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
“Our recent major construction projects have primarily focused on enhancing and expanding our academic programming,” added Dr. Michael Ash, SCC president. “Now that we completed many of those priorities, we are able to invest in facilities that will promote extracurricular experiences.”
The college partnered with architectural firm Shive-Hattery out of Davenport for design and engineering services.
SG Construction from West Burlington is serving as the general contractor.
The center is slated to open by fall 2023.
To support SCC’s rapidly expanding athletics programs, including soccer, cross country, and track and field, the college is also building an outdoor training facility.
With the teams established and exceling, college planners recognized a need to build an outdoor training facility for the student-athletes. It will feature a 400 meter eight-lane track, field event spaces, and a full-sized soccer field.
Cross country and track and field head coach Lucas Keifer is excited about this addition for his students.
“This training facility will be huge for our continuous growth as a program,” he said. “Having a facility on campus puts us at an advantage compared to other teams in our conference.”
Head soccer coach Kelee Marcy agreed, adding, “We’ve been using the Recplex as our primary practice field. It’s a great facility, but we are eager to have a field right on campus to maximize the use of our time for practice.”
The $700,000 project has been made possible by Four Seasons Excavation & Landscaping Inc. of West Burlington through their in-kind gift for sitework and drainage material installation valued at over $225,000.
Soccer games will still be hosted at Bracewell Stadium and the Recplex.
Construction is expected to will wrap up this summer.
A schedule of fall events is available at sccblackhawks. com.
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