Construction for the renovation and expansion of the Jack V. Doland Field House at McNeese State University begins next month and the McNeese Athletics Department broke ground for the $8.25 million project at a ceremony Thursday, Sept. 17.

The current facility, built in 1965 and last renovated in 1975, includes 17,834 square feet. In 2000, the Dowell ‘Doc’ Fontenot Sports Medicine Center was added to the Doland athletics complex. This construction project will add an additional 29,238 square feet, including a second floor, which almost doubles the space of the current facility.

The field house is named after Dr. Jack Doland, a former state senator, McNeese president from 1980-86 as well as an alumnus, former athlete, coach and athletic director at McNeese. Fontenot served 20 years as McNeese’s first head athletic trainer.

Over the past 40 years, the current athletic field house has remained virtually unchanged despite continual growth of the university’s athletic programs and the number of student-athletes and staff it serves,” said McNeese President Robert Hebert. “A modern field house will enhance the environment of our student-athletes and would assist the athletics department in recruitment.”

Key features of the field house project include an expanded weight room, expanded locker room, additional team meeting rooms, additional offices, a media room, an academic resource center, additional conference rooms, expanded ticket office, indoor club room and outdoor seating area.

“The field house is the ‘home’ for McNeese athletics,” said McNeese Athletics Director Tommy McClelland. “Athletic events take place in various venues across campus, but the field house serves as the heart of the program. This new field house will make a statement about the strength of the McNeese athletics program and inspire pride in the athletes, students and the community.”

C. Gayle Zembower of Lake Charles is the architect for the project. Completion of the project is scheduled for March 2011. To view the architect renditions for this project, go online to www.mcneese.edu/doland.

Jack V. Doland Field House Renovation and Expansion Statistics

Architect: C. Gayle Zembower

Construction Begins: Fall 2009

Construction Complete: March 2011

Construction Cost: $8.25 million
                        Corporate and private donations
                        Athletic revenue
                        Student self-assessed fee
                        Capital outlay funds
                        Hotel/motel occupancy fee
                       
Facility statistics:

Current facility: 17,834 square feet—built in 1965 and last renovated in 1975

Total renovation and expansion of facility—29,238 added square feet, including a second floor

Features:
            Expanded weight room
            Expanded locker room
            Additional team meeting rooms
            Additional offices
            Media room
            Academic resource center
            Additional conference rooms
            Expanded ticket office
            Indoor club room
            Outdoor seating area
            Hall of Fame in public lobby             
           
Total square feet upon completion of project—47,072 square feet

Yesterday and today

1965
Student-Athletes—148
Athletic Sports—6 sports

1975
Student-Athletes—179
Athletic Sports—7

2009
Student-Athletes—351
Athletic Sports—16

Total number of McNeese Conference Championships—65
One national championship--NAIA basketball championship in 1955-56.

“The Bronco Buster”
              This near life-sized bronze statue is a replica of the famous Frederic Remington sculpture and has been purchased by a private donation to be placed in front of the Doland Field House after the project is complete.