Fighting Illini Athletic Director Josh Whitman unveiled plans to undertake a major renovation to the Richard T. Ubben Practice Facility by saying he didn’t want to “go halfway…”
Monday he announced an ambitious renovation and expansion of the practice facility for both Fighting Illini basketball teams.
The $30 Million renovation will more than double the space for the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. It will include state-of-the-art sports medicine areas, amenities for recruits and current players, and an expanded strength and conditioning area.
From the release:
“There is a direct correlation between the construction of the Ubben Complex and the unparalleled success our program enjoyed over the next 10 years that followed,” said UI Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. “In the 20 years since Ubben opened, the concept has been copied by programs from coast-to-coast. Now, it is imperative for us to ensure that this outstanding facility remains as cutting-edge today as it was when it opened. We look forward to using this facility to help catapult the Fighting Illini programs back to an elite level.”
The renovation will add over 45,000 square feet to the building. Two half courts will be added to the current gyms for men’s and women’s basketball teams. Also, the locker room and meeting spaces will triple in size.
Whitman said they do not expect that construction will interrupt the use of the facility. He is expecting a three year timeline for construction, once the project is greenlit.
The building will feature a new main entrance off of St. Mary’s road, with a new parking area to the east of the building.
Coach Brad Underwood:
“We’re excited about the expansion plans for the Ubben practice facility. It will enable us to be self-contained in terms of everything we do from enhanced athletic training, rehab and recovery areas, to rooms for academic services, an expanded strength and conditioning area, dining space, expanded court space, and the most up-to-date technological offerings throughout the building. This renovation will offer a comprehensive, functional space that is the players’ home-away-from-home and has them excited every time they walk in the doors. Bottom line, it will be a facility that allows our players to achieve their best as students and athletes.”
Fundraising for the renovation is already underway. It is part of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics $300 million fundraising goal. This project joins the Football Performance Center, and the new soccer and track facility Demirjian Park.
Whitman expects all of the funding for the project to come from private donations.
The practice facility was built in 1998 and was one of the first practice facilities to be built specifically for basketball.
