CLEVELAND, Ohio --- The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USG Corporation have selected FGCU as one of three finalists for the fifth annual USG NACDA Sustainability Award. The announcement was made recently at the 54th Annual NACDA Convention in Orlando, Fla. with the other finalists include Loyola University Chicago and South Dakota State University.
This is the second time in three years that FGCU Athletics has earned finalist status for a national award. In 2017, FGCU was also one of three finalists (along with East Carolina and eventual winner Maryland) for the inaugural Community Service Award, as selected by representatives from NACDA and the Fiesta Bowl. The award recognizes exceptional Division-I athletics departments that make volunteerism and community service a way of life. The Eagles were recognized for their all-time high collective 7,200 hours served the year prior.
"Similar to our Community Service Award acknowledgment, we are deeply honored to be named a finalist for another NACDA recognition and are very appreciative of USG Corporation for their sponsorship," FGCU's Director of Athletics
Ken Kavanagh said. "FGCU takes deep pride as an institution in being amongst the nation's annual leaders in sustainability initiatives. Hence, being placed in this celebrated trio is something we are extremely proud of. I also want to commend Associate AD for Facilities and Operations
Michael Miller for his significant role in spearheading this important project for us."
The award, which will be announced later this summer, will be presented in the fall at an on-campus event hosted by the winning institution. The winner will receive $40,000 in USG product, and second and third place will win $10,000 each in USG product, for use toward any athletics or academic facility at the selected institution.
"For the last five years, the USG NACDA Sustainability Award has shined a light on some of the best all-around facilities in college athletics," NACDA Chief Executive Officer
Bob Vecchione said. "The sustainable impact these facilities have is just as impressive as their overall design and functionality. The environment, the institutions and college athletics as a whole are better as a result of these facilities."
The award was designed to recognize NACDA member institutions across all divisions, honoring athletics directors and their universities for incorporating sustainable practices and materials into their athletics facilities. A six-person committee consisting of athletics directors across the country and representatives from USG and NACDA will help choose this year's award winner.
Below are descriptions of the three facilities that earned these institutions recognition as finalists for the USG NACDA Sustainability Award.
Florida Gulf Coast University
Project: W. Bernard & Elaine Lester Athletics Administrative Complex
Architect: Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects, Inc.
Completion Date: August 2017
In August 2017, Phase 1 of Alico Arena's expansion was completed. The project added new basketball coaches and development offices, a state-of-the-art theatre and the Hartley Academic Resource Center. Additionally, the sports medicine training was expanded into the new Schreiner Sports Medicine Center. This project incorporated several sustainability initiatives, such as utilizing all LED lighting, maximizing daylight views and maximizing insulation on the building envelope beyond code regulations. Additionally, FGCU utilizes "daylight harvesting" in its lighting system, where any of the spaces with windows have sensors that monitor light levels and automatically dim the lights as the daylight levels increase. Furthermore, sun shade devices were added to the southern facing windows to reduce the solar heat gain.
Loyola University Chicago
Project: Alfie Norville Practice Facility
Architect: SCB
RDG Planning and Design
Elara Engineering
Power Construction
Completion Date: July 2019
In 2009, Loyola University Chicago embarked on a strategic plan to drive the institution's progress through 2020. In keeping with the strategic plan's goals of providing a premier undergraduate experience, the university launched Reimagine, a campaign to revitalize the student community at its Lake Shore Campus focused around an ambitious, phased building project to elevate sports, recreation and athletics facilities as well as to centralize student life offerings for the campus. The 389,484-square-foot Lake Shore Campus Sports and Recreation Complex, constructed from 2011-19, features state-of-the-art athletics facilities combined with a new student center and student life support spaces. Located at the center of campus, the new complex has become a hub for student activity, wellness, and collegiality, exemplifying Loyola University Chicago's mission to deliver a transformative educational experience that develops the whole person through an integrated curricular and co-curricular program. These efforts support the university's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2025 through aggressive energy efficiency and high-performing new construction. Loyola developed the complex to integrate athletics with centralized student life offerings, while serving as a recruitment tool and offering support services to ensure their success.
South Dakota State University
Project: Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium
Architect: Architecture Incorporated, Sioux Falls, SD
Crawford Architects, Kansas City, MO
Completion Date: September 2016
Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota is the home of South Dakota State University's FCS football team and is seeking LEED Silver Certification. Opened in the fall of 2016, the stadium is a premier outdoor venue, seating up to 20,000 fans. By building on the former stadium's site, existing infrastructure was used. Site selection effortlessly links the stadium to the rest of campus with sidewalks, bike racks, and existing parking. North parking lots remain unpaved, reducing the heat island effect and controlling storm water runoff. The curtain wall on the west side of the premier spaces features sprawling views of campus while daylighting studies were performed to maximize solar exposure to the seating bowl and field. Concourses are shielded from harsh western winds and were designed for easy winterization. As the final phase of SDSU's new outdoor sports complex, connectivity of the stadium to the Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center (Phase 1 – LEED Gold) and the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex (Phase 2 – LEED Silver) creates a hub for 550+ student-athletes to learn, train, heal, and perform. Homage is paid to South Dakota and previous home of the Jackrabbits, Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, by incorporating regionally-sourced, repurposed, reclaimed, and recycled-content materials.
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#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 78 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including both men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's basketball again in 2018-19. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in spring 2018 and have outpaced their institution's undergraduate student body GPA each of the past twenty semesters. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl in 2017.FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--
