Montreat College has announced approval to move ahead with plans to build a new $2 million dollar athletic complex on its Black Mountain campus. The announcement of approval was made by college president Paul J. Maurer during an on-campus ceremony last evening that was attended by students, faculty, staff, and members of the Montreat community.
Construction of the new complex has been contracted to Sportsfield Engineering, a national sports-facility design and construction firm with branches across the country. Features of the new facility will include “an 8-lane running track, a state-of-the-art ‘Replicated Grass’ turf athletic field, a softball field, two parking lots, and an ADA compliant restroom building,” according to Montreat’s press release.
Funding for the project was provided primarily by two donors: alumnus Rusty Pulliam, who graduated from Montreat in 1978 and currently serves as President and CEO of Pulliam Properties in Asheville, donated $750,000 towards the project, one of the largest gifts to the college by an alumni in its 99 year history. The other donor, who wished to remain anonymous, provided $1.25 million dollars to the project, in addition to a record-breaking $6 million dollar gift granted to Montreat in March of 2014.
Montreat College Announces New $2 Million Athletic Complex
April 8, 2015Montreat College announced approved plans for a new $2 million athletic complex at an on-campus ceremony this evening hosted by President Paul J. Maurer and attended by Montreat College students, faculty, staff, and other members of the Montreat community. The complex will be built on the college’s Black Mountain campus and will include an 8-lane running track, a state-of-the-art “Replicated Grass” turf athletic field, a softball field, two parking lots, and an ADA compliant restroom building. SportsField Engineering will construct the complex. The target date for the completion of the complex is August 1, 2015.
Two donors have provided full funding for the project. The anonymous donor who gave the record-breaking $6 million gift in March of 2014 has generously provided an additional $1.25 million for this project. Alumnus Rusty Pulliam, class of 1978, has committed an additional $750,000, one of the largest alumni gifts in the history of the college. Pulliam was inducted into the Montreat College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 for his contribution to his community and achievements as a baseball player while a student at Montreat. He is the president and CEO of Pulliam Properties in Asheville.
“It is impossible to overstate the impact of the incredible generosity of this anonymous donor and Rusty Pulliam,” said Montreat College President Paul J. Maurer. “This new athletic complex will be transformational for our entire athletic program. It will allow the college to recruit a full roster for the track and field program, as well as fully subscribe women’s lacrosse, which is completing its first year at the college.” Maurer continued, “The track and field project is a tangible sign of the forward momentum the college has been experiencing over the past year. I couldn’t be more excited for the future of Montreat College.”
“This is a pivotal moment in the history of Montreat College athletics,” said Montreat College Athletic Director Jose Larios. “This complex will impact nine teams, roughly 170 of our student-athletes. And it provides an opportunity for us all to join together as a campus to give God the praise for the faithfulness of the two donors who made this possible. Our commitment as a college and athletic program is to be faithful stewards of the facilities we’ve been blessed with.”
The new 8-lane, 400-meter running track will feature the world-class Benyon BSS 1000 surfacing, currently in use at the likes of North Carolina State University, Wake Forest University, and the University of Michigan. The new 115-yard by 75-yard athletic field will feature SportsField Engineering’s “Replicated Grass” turf, the newest and safest product on the market. The new softball field will feature an 11,500 square-foot clay infield, 27,000 square-foot sodded outfield, and a 3,500 square-foot warning track. The two new gravel parking lots will have space for roughly 140 cars. And the new ADA compliant restroom building will be 896 square feet.
“The addition of this new complex has us eager to start a new season—and a new era—of athletics at Montreat College,” said Men’s Head Soccer Coach Brenton Benware. “We’ve trusted the Lord for the provision of this complex, and we are so grateful for His continued blessings on the college. A huge thanks goes out to President Maurer, Athletic Director Larios, our Board of Trustees, and our gracious financial supporters for their efforts towards the realization of this new beginning for us.”
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.