Health and Wellness Center (Marshall University)

The Health and Wellness Center at Marshall University will be located at 5th Avenue and 20th Street in Huntington, West Virginia. The complex is part of a $95 million expansion plan that includes two new "living-learning" residence halls cite news | author=LoPresti, Sarina | title="Here today, gone in May, Twentieth Street Baptist Church to be demolished to make way for recreation facility, residence hall." | publisher=The Parthenon | date=2007-01-31 | url=http://media.www.marshallparthenon.com/media/storage/paper534/news/2007/01/30/News/Here-Today.Gone.In.May-2684865.shtml?sourcedomain=www.marshallparthenon.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com ] and a baseball field near the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

History

The Health and Wellness Center was proposed in a "Board of Governors" meeting on November 10, 2004 by the campus "Student Government Association".

On October 12, 2006, Marshall University purchased the Twentieth Street Baptist Church for $1 million with the intent of demolition. cite news | title="MU to break ground in spring on health center." | publisher=Herald-Dispatch | date=2007-01-31 ] The church's first service dates back to December 1926 and hosted its last service on March 25. On January 24, 2007, the school's board of governors approved a contract to tear down the church in early May; demolition began on May 21. cite news | title="MU construction set to begin" | author=Hardiman, Jean Tarbett | publisher=Herald-Dispatch | date=2007-05-15 ]

Construction on the convert|123000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. recreational center will begin in July 2007 and is expected to be complete by January 2009. cite news | title="New schools, businesses expected in Tri-State" | publisher=Herald-Dispatch | date=2007-01-01 | url=http://www.heralddispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070101/NEWS01/701010337 ] When complete, the facility will feature a swimming pool, a three-story climbing wall, a running track, courts for racquetball, handball, volleyball and basketball, and three fitness rooms for free weights, Nautilus, and cardiovascular machines. It will also have a child care center and an outdoor area for sunbathing. cite news | title="MU expansion on schedule" | author=McElroy, Justin | publisher=Herald-Dispatch | date=2007-02-12 | url=http://www.heralddispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070212/NEWS01/702120323 ] cite news | title="MU predicts return on center" | author=McElroy, Justin | publisher=Herald-Dispatch | date=2007-06-01 ]

Construction on the dormitories is expected to begin in May or June with a completion date on the two-building 785-bed-total housing complex in August 2008. The new freshmen residence halls will feature two-person suites with individual bedrooms, and a shared bathroom for each suite; each room will also have access to wireless internet. The buildings will also host a study room, theater, video conference room, several classrooms, and apartments for visiting faculty. Soon after, Hodges Hall and Laidley Hall, both constructed in 1937, will be demolished.

Financing

On May 14, 2007, the university "Board of Governors" approved a resolution on a partnership between the university and "Capstone Management". Capstone will own and operate the facilities until it has a return on investment. The public-private partnership, the first in the state of West Virginia, will help speed up construction and keeps other projects, such as the Engineering laboratory, in the pipeline. It will also help keep the new buildings off the balance sheet.

The expansion is being funded with different bonds by two entities. The university's bonds are insured, while Capstone's are without worth at the moment because the company will not have a return on investment until 2018. The public-private partnership will only work if the buildings create a revenue stream; the dormitory collects housing fees, while the student recreation center collects student fees. The funds will pay off the bonds. Capstone will own and operate the facilities for 30 years when ownership will transfer to the university.

References

See also

* Buildings at Marshall University
* Cityscape of Huntington, West Virginia
* Marshall University