Samford to build $65M state-of-the-art recreation and athletic complex by Fall 2024

Samford University announced today it is launching the largest capital project in the university’s history.

The historic $65 million venture will enlarge and renovate existing buildings to create a new state-of-the-art recreation and athletic complex. The campus complex will focus on providing students and employees with opportunities to improve physical fitness and mental wellness as well as new spaces for campus events and student gatherings. 

Investment in Wellness

“This project represents a substantial investment in the health and wellness of our students. We are committed to supporting our students in their educational and spiritual journeys, and we also want to support them in their physical and mental wellbeing,” said President Beck A. Taylor. “This new facility will enhance campus life and provide students with spaces to gather, exercise, socialize and participate in numerous recreational activities.”  

The Numbers

Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in early 2023. 

It includes investments in four separate buildings on campus totaling 154,000 square feet:

• Seibert Hall will be completely redesigned to include two basketball courts, a new multi-use court, studios for fitness classes, an e-sports studio, dance studios, state-of-the-art weight and cardio machines, a multi-purpose workout area and common areas for students to gather, with lounge areas, a coffee house and a 24-hour convenience store.
• Bashinsky Field House will be a fully refurbished, dedicated facility for Samford student-athletes, including new training spaces for teams and dedicated practice spaces for the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs.
• A third building will be constructed adjacent to Seibert Hall and encompass 20,000 square feet of recreation and event space. The new facility will include a suspended indoor track, additional basketball courts and cardio spaces, sound and staging to host campus events, a catering kitchen, covered outdoor athletic space, a pedestrian walkway and a covered balcony that overlooks Bobby Bowden Field.
• The first floor of the Dwight and Lucille Beeson Center, located directly across the street from the complex, will also be renovated to serve as the new home for the university’s health center and counseling services.

“Students want to lead a healthy lifestyle and we want their university to provide them with opportunities to do so,” Taylor said.

Funding and Timeline

Funding for the project will come from current resources and philanthropic gifts.   

The complex is expected to be completed prior to the start of the fall 2024 semester, according to Samford.

This is the second historic announcement by the university this spring. In May, Samford received a $100 million gift from the estate of the late Marvin Mann. It is the largest higher education donation of its kind in the history of Alabama. Mann’s gift will be used to provide Samford students scholarships.

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