For Immediate Release

Contact: John M. Martino
Phone Number:  (215) 895-1186
Date: 11/11/02

Q102 to Help Celebrate Topping Off Ceremony for New Athletic/Recreation Center at USP

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) will hold a steel “topping off” ceremony for its new 78,000-gross square-foot athletic/recreation center on Thursday, November 14, noon, at 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue. Adding to the festivities will be the appearance of Donna Storm, DJ for Q102's Power Hour, who will broadcast live from USP.

During the ceremony, the main entry ridge beam, which will be signed by the campus community, will be hoisted by crane onto the structural framework of the new building. The new building, part of a greater $30 million campus expansion and beautification initiative, will provide current and future USP students and athletes with state-of-the-art recreation, sports, and meeting facilities. Plans are also underway for a landmark college green and unified setting that will create a vibrant university campus. The building will provide exercise and practice space for varsity and intramural sports as well as general recreational facilities.  It will also include:

Event Gymnasium with bleacher seating for 1,000 spectators and 1 performance court. Bleachers will retract to provide 2-court basketball or 3-court volleyball practice or intramural configurations and an open floor for multi-purpose assembly or job fairs.

Recreation Gymnasium with one basketball or two volleyball courts.

3,500 square-foot, three-lane swimming pool with a spa and a multi-purpose recreational component that features underwater benches, jets and bubble couch.

Main Lobby/Lounge with distinct areas for general student lounging, vending with café seating, and games. The area will also provide adequate pre-function space for sporting events with public trophy/display case for athletics.

Elevated 1/10 mile Jogging Track suspended through Recreation Gymnasium and overlooking main lobby/lounge, Event Gymnasium and swimming pool.

Aerobics Room with sprung wood flooring for multiple aerobics, fitness, and cultural dance uses, and an interior window “wall” that will overlook the Recreation Gymnasium.

Cardio Theater with a variety of exercise machines (steppers, treadmills, ellipticals) and other selectorized/cardiovascular equipment.

Weight Room and Sports Medicine facility with free weights and select physical therapy/training equipment.

30-seat classroom with full audio/visual and IT capability that will double as a press box with interior window overlooking Event Gymnasium.

The entire project is estimated to be complete by Spring 2003.

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