Hundreds of current and former student-athletes, alumni, community members, friends and family gathered at College of the Holy Cross on Saturday to celebrate the dedication of the College’s newly expanded Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.
The new facility gives all Crusader student-athletes a world-class collegiate, competitive experience, and puts Holy Cross a step above its peer institutions. The new indoor practice facility named in honor of Saint Ignatius of Loyola includes a 100-yard turf field and 64,000 square feet of space for use by all varsity teams, while the Coach George Blaney ’61 Gymnasium serves as a top-notch practice court for the basketball and volleyball programs. Both are also available for general student use, club sports and intramural sports during designated hours every day. In addition, the Carol and Park B. Smith ’54 Sports Performance Center features 9,500 square feet of space for the strength and conditioning needs of all varsity sports.
The $95 million facility includes:
- 138,000 square feet of renovations, including updates to the Hart Center Arena and Hart Center Rink
- A 64,000-square foot indoor practice facility with a 100-yard turf field for use by all sports
- Auxiliary gymnasium for basketball and volleyball practice
- 3,000 square feet of new space for sports medicine
- 9,500 square feet of new space for strength and conditioning training and equipment
- 10 new or updated team-dedicated locker rooms
- Offices, recruiting spaces and meeting rooms for all programs
- Exterior plaza for events
The facility was supported by many donors, with a $32.5 million lead commitment from John Luth ’74 and Joanne Chouinard-Luth, D.M.D. Their gift is the largest in College of the Holy Cross history.
The project, designed by Sasaki Associates, got under way with site work beginning in December 2015. Renovations of the Hart Center began in April 2016, with the updated arena and rink officially opening for the start of the 2016-17 winter seasons. This fall, the Luth Athletic Complex became fully available for use by most staff and administration, with the opening of the Indoor Practice Facility (October) and the coaches’ suites (January) capping off the project.
After the speaking program and formal ribbon cutting, individual dedication ceremonies were held across the complex Saturday for spaces named after Holy Cross alumni and donors to the project, including the Bill Doran ’77 Auditorium, Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Atrium, the Moriarty and Scott Equipment Room, and the William P. Maloney ’59 Football Office Suite.
College President Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., blessed the new facility and all in attendance. He told the assembled crowd that the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex would be an important space for both student-athletes and the Holy Cross community.
“This facility will enhance the experience of every student-athlete at Holy Cross and is the cornerstone upon which all of our athletics successes will be built for many years to come,” said Boroughs. “The Luth Athletic Complex is also an important gathering place for creating and expanding that sense of spirit and pride that is fostered through athletics — within our campus, and among the alumni and broader community.”
Senior field hockey player Maureen Connolly spoke about what the facility means to Holy Cross’ nearly 700 student-athletes and 27 varsity teams.
“When student-athletes step through the doors of the Luth Athletic Complex, they are immediately invigorated by the transformed space,” Connolly said. “With more practice space, state-of-the-art equipment, and permanent locker rooms, to name just a few of the many impactful additions, Holy Cross student-athletes are given an even bigger platform for success.”
Athletics Director Nathan Pine said the facility puts Holy Cross in elite company.
“This facility is a game-changer for Holy Cross, raising the profile of our athletics program and our entire institution,” Pine said. “What we now have at Holy Cross exceeds the athletics facilities of so many of our peer institutions and even some of the top programs in the country in certain areas.”
Learn more about the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex:
Explore the facilities through photos, 360-degree tours and more on the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex site.
