Watch: Opening the New Center for Athletics Performance, Bulldog Arena

Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., opened its new Center for Athletics Performance and Bulldog Arena in a ceremony this month. 

The Center for Athletics Performance was approved in February 2021 as part of a $15.3 million upgrade to the Bulldogs' athletic facilities, the university said in a news release. The upgrades offer championship-caliber training and conditioning facilities to the nearly 400 Bulldog student-athletes and 17 varsity programs.

The opening of the Center for Athletics Performance and Bulldog Area were part of a multiphase renovation and construction project that included a new and expanded strength and conditioning space, and a new multipurpose arena and competition space for the volleyball program and practice area for other sports, additional and renovated locker room facilities along with team meeting spaces.

The project features a new connector and entrance to athletic facilities and renovations to offices and the sports medicine area.

Along with the Center for Athletics Performance, the new and renovated locker room facilities along with the sports medicine area were opened during preseason camp in August. The addition of office space overlooking the CAP was completed soon after with the construction of the new Bulldog Arena and team meeting spaces finished late this past fall.

Granger Construction oversaw the subcontracting firms, who took up approximately 7,200 square feet of renovation work and the development of nearly 16,000 square feet of new construction to create the Center for Athletics Performance. 

The Ewigleben Sports Complex was originally constructed in 1974 with the former volleyball arena, which was transformed into the new Center for Athletics Performance, added on in 1982.

The new Bulldog Arena addition will sit to the east side of the main concourse near both the existing Ewigleben Ice Arena and Wink Arena.