View Ursuline's real-time camera of construction here
GREENWOOD, Ind. – Nestled in Pepper Pike, Ohio, on the campus of Ursuline College, is the continuous bustling of construction for a new facility that the institution is scheduled to proudly unveil later this year.
But what used to be remnants of partial ruin courtesy of a tornado blowing through the campus in July of 2013 has been radically transformed into a soon-to-be upgraded Division II athletic facility that will proudly house one of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference’s nine schools.
Ursuline’s former Matthew J. O’Brien Athletic Center was damaged with winds in excess of 110 mph that left the roof displaced and an outer shell standing when debris was cleared.
In the aftermath, planning with an architect was underway and like a jigsaw puzzle, a lot of pieces had to fall in place before moving forward.
Near the center of the $10 million campaign is Ursuline Athletic Director Cindy McKnight, whose leadership rose to the forefront as she worked with various constituents to get the renovation project up and running.
McKnight credits Ursuline President Sister Diana Stano for helping to make the project a possibility. She also has immense praise for VP of Institutional Advancement Kevin Gladstone who spearheaded the fundraising and June Gracyk, VP for Facilities Management, for her planning efforts and building expertise.
“There are a lot of different things going on at one time,” McKnight said. “I have the best president there is. Without her, this could not happen. Everyone knows how difficult (of a process) this is with scheduling and our faculty has been very understanding. It has been a long year and a half, but we’re continuing to move forward and every day I know it’s getting closer to June 10.”
Wednesday, June 10, is the targeted date for a dedication ceremony. Representatives from the city along with alumnae, the board of trustees and others, will be in attendance for the unveiling.
As McKnight explained through some of the new features, it’s understandable why everyone is anxiously awaiting to see the finished product.
Instead of two locker rooms existing before, there will now be six. The training room will double in size from before. A revamped fitness center will have windows that feature a lake view. The gym itself will be twice the size as the former. Four batting cages will be inside for the softball team. A revamped entranceway will have a rustic feel.
All of the mentioned amenities require a team effort and patience from everyone involved.
McKnight’s staff works tirelessly from the confines of a mobile trailer on campus. Her student-athletes pile into vans for offsite practices and ‘home’ events at various local high schools and colleges.
“I have an amazing staff that has worked through unbelievable conditions,” praised McKnight. “Our young women don’t complain. They understand the situation -- that it was nobody’s fault and they don’t make excuses. That’s all attributed to the staff I have.”
At present, construction continues to cruise along with mild temperatures prevailing in the winter months. The concrete floor was recently poured in and block work on the second floor office structure is nearing completion.
McKnight currently estimates the outside structures are 50 percent complete and the need for roofing has been pushed to the forefront in the event of inclement weather.
“This will be a facility that the conference will be proud of,” McKnight said. “It is a Division II facility. We recognize that is not what we had before. All I want when you walk through that front door, is for you to say ‘wow.’”