Glennie Gym to receive summertime makeover

By Dan Bredfield- Editor in Chief

            Story courtesy of the Review Atlas

             As Monmouth College continues work on the 21 million-dollar Huff Athletic Center, students have been able to watch the complex's progress from the ground up.

            Along with a new field house and natatorium, one major renovation will take place on an existing building: Glennie Gymnasium.

            Upon completion, the newly renovated gym will truly leave people wide-eyed and in awe, and will greatly enhance the experience of watching a men's or women's basketball game.

            "As of right now, we are planning on having the dedication for the Huff Athletic Center at the college's Homecoming in the fall," said Monmouth College President Richard Giese.

            The first thing that may catch the eye is the new entrance planned for the gym. Entering from the south side of the complex, fans will walk through a concourse, which will allow them to look down upon the pool and indoor track.   

            Spectators will then reach the basketball court, and will file from the concourse down into the west bleachers, giving it an arena-type feel. There will also be entrances at both the north and south ends of the court at ground level for fans to get to the east bleachers.

            Of course, those fans attending games in the newly renovated gym will not be sitting in the same old bleachers. The college is going to replace the old seats with new sets of bleachers for the fans.

            While the gym will hold roughly the same amount, the official seating capacity will be a little smaller.

            "Regulations and guidelines call for more railings and more pronounced aisles, so technically the gym will hold a little less, but capacity will be pretty close to what it has been," said Pete Loomis, Director of the Physical Plant at Monmouth College.

            The floor itself will also be undergoing some changes, as the current plans are to sand, repaint, and refinish the floor. The rest of the gym interior is also set to receive a new paint job. Current plans also call for a small food service area to be installed.

            Another feature of the newly renovated gym will be an upgraded lighting system.

            The college is going to add lighting, but the real addition will be the way the lights are used.

             The new system will allow the basketball court to be highlighted, while dimming the lights over the bleachers, also helping to give the new court an arena feel.

            Sophomore Nick Swing, a member of the Fighting Scots basketball team, is anxiously anticipating the changes. "It's going to be very exciting to play in. It will be a great change in atmosphere."

            Watching the Huff Athletic Center blossom from the ground up has certainly raised a level of excitement around the Monmouth College campus.

            "I think it is going to be an outstanding facility," said Giese. "I think that it will get heavy student use from those involved in athletics, and those just using it for recreation purposes."

            Loomis added, "It's exciting for all of us, administration and students alike. It's going to be a state of the art facility."

            Rob Purlee, a guard for the basketball team, is looking forward to playing in the new gym, but also sees the larger picture involved with the facility. "It will be a huge step for Monmouth College athletics. Perspective students won't be able to visit campus and leave saying that MC doesn't have what Augustana, Illinois Wesleyan, and Lake Forest have, because the Huff Center will be in that league."

            So while the dribbling basketballs may have temporarily subsided in Glennie gymnasium, one thing is for sure.

            By the time next basketball season rolls around, the students and members of the community will be treated to an athletic experience unlike any before on the Monmouth College campus.

 A picture of Glennie Gym today. The addition of the Huff Center will change the look and feel of home basketball games next year. Photo by Anna Koenig.