Brescia students will soon have a new home away from home.
Citizens of Owensboro will soon have a new gateway to downtown.
“March 31, 2016, will go down as one of the most memorable days in Brescia’s history,” said Kevin Carrico, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, whose son Chase is a third generation Brescia student.
The atrium in what is now known as the Student Center was standing room only as students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, and friends filled the floor, stood on the stairs, and lined the second-floor railing to watch shovels overturn the symbolic first scoops of dirt for the renovation and expansion of the building that will now be known as the “Moore Center.”
Nine years ago a master plan was developed to consider campus life for the next 25-30 years. President Larry Hostetter said input from students suggested they wanted a campus center that was more “like home.” The current building design has served Brescia well since it was built in the late 80’s early 90’s, Hostetter said.
But today marks a new beginning for the building, which will see a major renovation including an expansion of the gymnasium.
Joe Moore (Class of ’74) and his family were on hand to commemorate the occasion. Moore and his wife made a contribution of $1 million toward the project and secured an additional million from a foundation in Nashville, TN. In recognition of the combined $2 million donation, Brescia decided to name the newly renovated building the “Moore Center.”
“The Moore Center is really named for my mother and father because of their influence on me. I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Moore told the crowd. “Rather than call this the ‘Joe Moore Center,’ we wanted to acknowledge the whole Moore family,” Hostetter explained.
Moore also recognized the Ursuline Sisters, who founded Brescia College (now University). “I tell people all the time, the Ursulines are the greatest group of women I’ve ever known. I’m so inspired by what they’ve done.”
In remarks during the ceremony, Mayor Ron Payne (Class of ’72) and County Judge Executive Al Mattingly (Class of ’68) also recognized the impact Brescia had on their careers, and the spirit of the Ursulines that still influences them today.
The groundbreaking officially began the first phase of The Campaign for Brescia University: Gateway to Our Second Century, a $10 million capital campaign which also includes a signature building to be built on the corner of 9th and Frederica.
Renovations to The Moore Center will include an open concept living and dining area on the first floor, a remodeled cafeteria, a new Snack Bar, and Spirit Shop. The first floor will also see a new Athletics Hall of Fame and expanded gymnasium to accommodate nearly 1,000 fans that will also feature two full practice courts and a primary playing court. The addition of two new team locker rooms and an enrollment center will also be housed on the first floor of the building. The second floor will see the addition of a health and wellness center, expanded walking track, and updated office space that includes a new counseling center.
Hartz Contracting of Owensboro was announced as the contractor for the project and will be leading the construction for phase one of the campaign.
Construction on The Moore Center is scheduled to start this spring soon after the groundbreaking and is slated to be completed in January 2017.
