AU's Christenberry Fieldhouse gets a new look
By Nolan Turner | Sports writer
Augusta University has made renovations to its top athletic facility, Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The renovations to the home of Jaguar basketball and volleyball, as well as wellness courses and Athletics offices, include new metal siding all the way around the building, a redesigned main entrance- larger, with a mirror-like metallic finish and a digital media display.
Other improvements include an updated back entrance, for a more welcoming space, featuring prominent Augusta University branding. Interior remodeling consists of a brand-new weight room with new equipment, a presidential skybox overlooking the gym, fully redone locker rooms on the lower lever and new branding installed throughout the facility.
Thanks to university donors, athletic funds and state funds, the renovations were able to happen.
AU athletic director Ryan Erlacher said that the improvements were overdue.
“The siding was cracking and peeling, and it was a poor representation of the university.,” said Erlacher. “Also, if we want to be the best we must have facility’s that rival the best.”
Erlacher said Hurricane Helene slowed the progress of the renovations, but the work is nearly completed.
“The biggest challenges were being patient and letting the project play out and not rush it, but the biggest one is the hurricane that came through,” he said.
When Hurricane Helene came through Augusta last Sept. 27, it set everything back for a while due to the destruction and power outages around the city.
The renovation is not only for the athletes but as well as the university as a whole. These renovations bring a more modernized welcoming place for the students.
“Students tend to hang around at this campus more since the renovations, so it seems the students are taking more pride in the spaces they use and that was the goal,” said Erlacher.
The renovations have already started to help with the recruiting process, and it will only continue to grow.
“The facilities have never been the “why”, and now people are starting to want to be a part of Augusta University because of the new additions to the facility’s,” said Erlacher.
There will be more to come for Jaguar athletics, including softball getting renovations and additions to its facilities. Also, Erlacher still plans to add a track for track and field.
Erlacher said his favorite renovation is the “new weight room” because it impacts every current student-athlete as well as the ones to come.
Contact Nolan Turner at noturner@augusta.edu.
Christenberry Fieldhouse has undergone major renovations in the last year. AU athletic director Ryan Erlacher says that the renovations help with the overall marketing of Jaguar athletics, including recruiting. (photos by Mike Holohan/DCM)
