Facility Friday: Illinois Basketball Complex, Cal Baptist Performance Center and More

The University of Illinois announced that it had received a $2 million anonymous gift from a former men’s basketball player to help support the Ubben Basketball Complex renovation and expansion project. Plans call for upgrades that will more than double the building’s square footage, and benefit both the men’s and women’s basketball program. It’ll include additional court space, state-of-the-art sports medicine facilities, a strength and conditioning area, study spaces, staff offices and new locker rooms. The total announced giving to fund the $30 million project is now $3 million. — FightingIllini.com

“We are forever grateful to our many former student-athletes who are proud of their University and who are continually striving to join us in making it better." - @IlliniAD #Illini | #JointheFighthttps://t.co/yZFihF2JmN

— Illinois Athletics (@IlliniAthletics) September 22, 2019

California Baptist University held a dedication ceremony for its Athletic Performance Center last week. The facility features a 10,800-square-foot weight room, the largest in the state of California among Division I non-football schools, with 14 squat racks, 18 pulley stations, 12 sets of dumbbells. In addition, the facility offers dedicated nutrition space, a basketball practice facility and more. Each of the school’s 18 teams will use the facility. — CBULancers.com Cal Baptist ribbon cutting at its Athletic Performance Center [Photo credit Reagan Lee] 

Columbia College Chicago celebrated the opening of its first-ever Student Center. The five-story, 114,000-square-foot building, designed by Gensler, includes amenities such as a food court and coffee shop, a makerspace, a career center, music practice rooms, an event center, and a fitness center open to the entire campus community that will offer an array of fitness equipment and regularly scheduled classes. — Colum.edu

A 5,000 square-foot state-of-the-art Fitness Center will feature brand-new equipment, multiple rooms and studios for a variety of yoga and dance classes, and a meditation and prayer room, all centered around student health and wellness. pic.twitter.com/KByxNLjxnA

— Columbia College Chicago (@ColumbiaChi) September 6, 2019

The New York Islanders broke ground on new arena at Belmont Park. Set to open in October 2021, the facility will be the centerpiece of a $1.3 redevelopment plan for Belmont Park. The facility will feature seating for 17,113 hockey fans, with luxury seating options and outdoor terraces. — NHL.com/Islanders

All the latest Belmont Park updates can be found on our new #AllAboardForBelmont hub.

Click here https://t.co/iaPRv8P3EB pic.twitter.com/G9Q0JMb0TM

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 23, 2019

ALSO NOTICED: The University of Nebraska will reportedly announce plans for a new football facility on Friday. More details to come in next week’s Facility Friday. — Journal Star