The University of Vermont is moving forward with its multi-purpose facility project, which includes a new venue that would become home to the school’s basketball programs.
In a vote on Saturday, the Board of Trustees allowed the UVM multi-purpose facility project to move forward. Estimated at a cost of $95 million, the plan includes a new events center that will host basketball and more, renovations to hockey’s Gutterson Fieldhouse, and a conversion of basketball’s Patrick Gym into a recreation center. Under the current schedule, construction could start as soon as this winter and be completed in phases during the 2020-21 academic year.
Saturday’s vote, however, does not finalize the project, as university officials still have to complete a few tasks–including the permitting process and fundraising. Still, the vote does give the initiative some momentum, and UVM athletic director Jeff Schulman is expressing confidence that the school can reach its $30 million fundraising goal. More from the Burlington Free Press:
Schulman said the university is “well into the process” to get permits in place.
“That’s a very open, public process, and we are responding to questions from the city of Burlington and the state through the Act 250 process,” Schulman said. “It’s gone well and there are legitimate questions that are being asked and we are providing answers.”
That’s one major step. Another is fundraising and, on that front, Schulman declined to divulge how much the university has raised to this point, saying, “we are well on our way” of reaching the $30 million goal set forth by the board….
The rest of the $60 million will be covered by other institutional sources such as deferred maintenance budgets, Schulman said.
The new UVM event center will be designed to seat about 3,200 in a basketball configuration, with room for around 4,000 for other events. It will be constructed adjacent to Gutterson Fieldhouse, which will receive new seating, a shared overlook with the event center, a video display, and more (rendering below). The converted Patrick Gym, meanwhile, would be open to the general student body.
Renderings courtesy UVM athletics.
