JBU still looking for help with arena
Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/hl/News/25444/
“ We continue to look for gifts to build that, ” Krall said. “ We’ve had some interest. ”
It will be built solely with gifts, “ so we can continue to offer reasonable priced tuition, ” he said.
Construction will start when all the funding is acquired.
The arena will have a threefold use for athletic events, large chapel gatherings — such as when a major speaker comes to campus — and graduation.
A 50, 200-square-foot arena at John Brown University will be built to replace the current one once the university raises the money to built it.
The university has yet to raise money for the $ 12. 5 million gym; however, people have expressed interest in donating toward its construction, said Jim Krall, vice president for university advancement.
It will seat up to 1, 900 people during athletic events, 1, 400 during the gatherings and 3, 000 for graduations.
It will be 19, 000 square feet larger than the current one and built in the same location.
“ The current facility is dated, ” Krall said.
The 1, 200-seat Sells Gymnasium was built in the early 1960 s after the Sells family made a donation toward the construction of the gym.
Walton Lifetime Health Complex was later built around the gym.
Siloam Springs Board of Directors approved plans for the new arena May 6.
Plans include a 60-space parking lot to be built north of the complex.
John Brown University recently received $ 5 million from a pair of JBU alumni to build a new auditorium on campus.
The 500-seat, 23, 950-square-foot auditorium and performing arts center is expected to be built in 2010.