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May 23, 2003
UAS, National Guard Recreation and Readiness Center Moves Forward

The joint venture between the University of Alaska Southeast and the Alaska Army National Guard took one step closer toward completion last week when Brigadier General Craig Christensen and UAS Chancellor John Pugh signed the Memorandum of Agreement to move forward with the combined Recreation and Readiness Center at the UAS Auke Bay Campus.

“ This is really important to us, not only from the standpoint of completing our core facilities,” said Chancellor Pugh, “but also in serving the community. What this facility enables us to do is provide the students with a high quality education service, recreation service as well, of course, having the Army National Guard be able to provide their service personal with great facilities for training. This is going to be a great facility for everybody, the University, for the Army National Guard and for the community.”

The planned facility is a 53,000 sq. ft. structure (approximately the size of the Egan Library.) It will replace the Student Activities Center as a home for dances, physical education classes, movies and live performances. The shared amenities will include locker rooms, exercise equipment, gymnasium and classroom space. The National Guard gains storage space and a training center.“

The partnership ends up being a win-win for the Army National Guard and the University of Alaska Southeast,” Said Brigadier General Christensen. “To undertake a project of this magnitude individually we would have been stretched for resources, particularly in a time when resources are reclining, however, expectations for services and or facilities are either status quo or growing. To be able to Partner on this facility allows both of us to realize our full potential in a facility and still share the cost.”

The $1.6 million phase-one construction contract was awarded to Miller Construction of Juneau and work will begin this summer. The total projected cost of the project is $15.4 million. The completion date is planned to coincide with the beginning of the 2005 Fall Semester. UAS is responsible for $5.47 million for the project, with the remainder to be funded by the Army National Guard.“

The construction of a recreation center has been the number one priority of the students for a long time,” said Chancellor Pugh. “I’m really excited to be working with the Alaska Army National Guard to provide them with this wonderful facility.”

Rear Admiral James W. Underwood the Commander of the 17th Coast Guard District and a member of the UAS Campus Council was on hand to watch the ceremony. “We have a great sharing partnership with the current facility that the National Guard occupies and we see that continuing,” said Rear Adm. Underwood. “We also have a good interest in the University of Alaska Southeast, and where that’s going, so to watch this partnership come together is exciting. It’s a great facility and everybody is going to benefit.”

“ One of the benefits to the community is more gym space,” said Keith Gerken the UAS Regional Director of Facilities. “Currently the University uses approximately 1,500 hours of gym time in the community’s schools. That’s a lot of time to free up.”

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