New Peter Jay Sharp Athletic and Recreation Center to Open November 17
11/6/2009
On November 17, the Peter Jay Sharp Athletic and Recreation Center will officially become the newest addition to the Mount. The College will host a grand opening ceremony to usher in the new facility. Invitees include Mount faculty and administrators, student athletes, local politicians, trustees and friends. The grand opening will coincide with the inaugural men’s basketball game of the season against Lehman College.
The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation granted $1.75 Million to the Mount in 2006 through Trustee Edmund Duffy for the renovation and expansion of the athletic facilities. The entire Athletic and Recreation Center Addition project consists of 17,822 gross square feet of new construction and will provide a lobby connector to Hayes Hall where the new building attaches to the north side of the existing building. The new Peter Jay Sharp Athletic and Recreation Center includes:
- Regulation-size basketball court
- Two practice cross courts for basketball
- Regulation-size volleyball court
- Seating for more than 700 spectators
- Lobby includes restrooms for the gymnasium
The Athletic Center earns credit for following Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, a nationally recognized rating system for assessing the degree to which a building is environmentally friendly. The Athletic Center meets many of the performance standards set forth in the LEED’s rating system. These features include: a Smart Lighting System and high degree of insulation, which saves energy, and low-flush toilets which save both water and energy. The building is covered in translucent panels, which give the building a unique glow and are designed to allow for abundant natural light during the day, reducing the need for electrical lighting.
With the growing interest in athletics at the Mount, it became clear that the existing facilities would not be enough to house all sports. The present gymnasium was constructed in 1930 for an all-female student population of 400 and is not adequate to serve today’s co-educational student body approaching 1900. Research shows that student participation in athletics increases the likelihood of academic success. The new gymnasium will be open to all students at the Mount. Planned improvements are also underway for the renovation of existing Cardinal Hayes Auditorium.