Dec. 2, 2015
By Jerome Boettcher | Subscribe to Commodore Nation
The end is near for construction of Vanderbilt’s highly anticipated Training Room.
The state-of-the-art facility should be ready for athletic trainers, physicians and student-athletes to move into later this month, according to project manager Josh Gill of Orion Building Corp. Walls are starting to take shape, the last of the concrete is being poured, flooring is being installed and equipment will soon be moved in.
“It is starting to come together,” Gill said. “It is going to be a beautiful project with all the finishes. Compared to what the athletic training staff had to begin with, this is an up-to-date facility. A very up-to-date facility with all the hydrotherapy pools and all the electronics that go with that. It gives training a much bigger space to work out of. It gives them more room. They have a lot more privacy for each of their staff members.”
The renovation and expansion of the current site adjoined to the McGugin Center at the corner of Jess Neely Drive and Natchez Trace began in February. The project ran into some delays due to inclement weather ranging from rain, snow and ice. In addition, when the construction crew started digging to lay the foundation, the hard rock excavation hit a snag due to the thick limestone under ground. Gill estimates that alone delayed the project about four weeks.
The finished project excites Gill, athletics department administration and the athletic training staff, who have been temporarily housed in the basement of Memorial Gym during construction. The new facility will be expanded to 9,200 square feet, feature more examination and treatment rooms, team physician offices and more office space for the staff’s 13 athletic trainers.
Perhaps the biggest enhancement though, will be the three hydrotherapy pools. The pools were delivered several months ago and are now ready to be installed. They’ll benefit the recovery process for injured student-athletes as two of the pools can be set for hot or cold temperatures, while the third, larger tub will have space for a treadmill with cameras on the side to help monitor movements.
“The hydrotherapy pools – they are going to be the biggest highlight,” Gill said. “That space is going to be awesome once it is finished.”
Though the athletic training staff hopes to move in by the end of this month, Gill and his crew will still be on site to finish up mechanical and electrical work. The entire project should be completed in January.
