New facility will be ready in January 2012

The University of Thomas of St. Paul, MN knows about dedication towards development.

In just the last year, the school has undergone construction to the tune of $60 million in order to create the Anderson Student Center and the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center. Lee and Penny Anderson graciously supplied the funds for the creation of the facilities, and Athletic Director Steve Fritz said the new construction was such a blessing.

“Lee (Anderson) is on the Board of Trustees, and he was impressed with what’s going on here,” stated Fritz on the donation from Anderson. “It’s unbelievable now. We went from zero to hundred.”

Univ. of Thomas of St. Paul houses a Division-III program for 22 sports and about 700 athletes. The renovation project started in May 2009, and the athletic center was the first center on campus to go under construction.

Student athletes now can enjoy a 5,000 sq./ft. cardio room. In addition to the sport areas, the Anderson Student Center is next to be completed by January of 2012.  Fritz said it has been extremely encouraging to look out his office window and see construction take place over the past several months. He thinks that the new facilities will definitely help draw more prospective students to the campus.

“Now, the students have a new swimming pool, arena and field house that the athletes can’t help but be in awe of the quality of the facilities,” said Fritz, “We used to just have five, narrow lanes for swimming and no diving available, but now we have eight lanes, a bulkhead and a diving area.”

While St. Thomas has patiently awaited the great construction on the school grounds, Fritz added that the last year has been challenging as construction has changed the athletes’ routines and practice locations.

Yet, he said the kids were flexible and were willing to play off campus in order for the new facilities to be completed. “Our athletes are make-do people. They lived out of their equipment bags for awhile and I think it wore on them, so it was nice all through the school year to watch this (construction) going up.”

Fritz added that cooperation and patience was essential throughout everyone’s schedules as numerous meetings and busy planning periods consumed the 2009 school year. “We had to have help from a lot of different people to make this work,” said Fritz.

The staff is excited about office space as well as the sport venues now available. During renovation, the staff had two rooms with about 25 people in them. Now, the staff enjoys personal space for offices.

In addition to the athletic facilities, the school has undergone updates to heating and cooling systems throughout campus as well as updates to stair entrances, elevators, and science labs.

“There’s nothing I would change. We are so pleased with the new facility. We had great input from the coaches on what we needed, and the kids had an immediate reaction of excitement,” stated Fritz. “I think there will be a long appreciation for the facilities even after the students are done with college. There’s something here for everyone.”