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High-performance sports center to serve community.

CU broke ground on May 12 for the $143 million athletic facilities project that the university hopes will be largely completed by August 2015.

Among the key components of the proposed plans:

• A 120,000-square-foot multipurpose practice facility that will be constructed on Franklin Field, just east of Folsom Field. Included will be an artificial turf football field and a six-lane 300-meter track.
• Upgrades to the 23-year-old Dal Ward Center, including a strength training room for Olympic sports, new locker rooms and an equipment room. Also in the works are tripling the size of the athletic academic support area, an end-zone club with club seating and loge boxes and the addition of a leadership development center. Nearly 80 percent of the Dal Ward Center will be renovated.
• A 21,900-square-foot high-performance sports center and a rooftop terrace will be constructed on the northeast corner of Folsom Field, while the southern offices in Folsom will be converted to retail space. Restroom and concession areas will be added on the east side of Folsom. The rooftop terrace will be rentable on non-game days.

The upgrades will be privately funded with no tuition money or tax dollars going to the project. The CU Foundation has donated $10 million to the cause.

Illustration courtesy CU Athletics