Renovations also taking place in multiple athletic and student wellness areas
Samford students and faculty may have a lot to look forward to in the coming months in the shape of potential new renovations.
In the past year, Samford University’s campus has seen several new additions, updates and renovations. The theater and dance department saw the complete remodel of Harrison Theater where the entire space was rebuilt allowing additional seating as well as getting up to code with fire exits and wheelchair accessibility.
Samford Athletics has also had a number of renovations including the complete reconstruction of the press box and fan seating at Samford’s football facilities, Bobby Bowden Field. Samford Baseball has had the most recent changes with a state-of-the-art Daktronics scoreboard and video board which was fully functional for the first time just last week on March 29.
The newest wave of improving Samford is coming in the form of student body recreation, health and wellness.
Though no plans are set in stone, Samford facilities management has shared that as of right now, the areas being heavily considered for remodel are Seibert Gym and the Bashinsky Fieldhouse.
Seibert is currently home to a six basket court for shoot-arounds and can also be set up as a full size NCAA regulation court. Seibert, constructed in 1961, is the former home of Samford Basketball before moving to the Pete Hanna Center in 2007.
The underside of Seibert, Bashinsky Fieldhouse, has two basketball courts where intramural games are played. It is also home to the indoor track, the pool and the cage where students can work out. The fieldhouse is named after prominent Alabama business man Leo E. Bashinsky. The field house is also the former home of the annual Step Sing Banner Drop ceremony.
Seibert and Bashinsky host a myriad of student activities, many of which are operated by Samford Campus Recreation. Intramural sports and exercise classes are hosted in both buildings.
Jeff Poleshek, assistant vice president for Operations, Planning and Construction, made it clear that all of the factors are still being finalized before any updates can take place.
He shared the basic logistics of what is happening on his end.
“At this time our planning, design and construction teams are working on the programming, conceptual design and cost estimates for this potential renovation,” Poleshek said.
Once these ideas are finalized, the plan is to one day have a brand new Recreation and Wellness Center for campus.
Included in these plans is also Samford Health Services, which was recently put to the test with the COVID-19 pandemic. Samford Health Services is partnered with MedHelp and offers students a fully functional healthcare facility on campus. The facility is currently located within Seibert Gym.
While the facility performs many checkups for things like sinuses and cuts, the facility is also capable of providing services such as stitches, X-rays, and even hydration IV and fluids. Having a newly renovated facility will allow the doctors and nurses on staff to provide their normal high-quality care in an efficient and professional environment.
