RENDERING PHOTO GALLERY

Construction on UT Permian Basin's state-of-the-art D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center has officially begun. University and community leaders broke ground on the project Tuesday morning during a special ceremony.

UT Permian Basin President Sandra Woodley says she's encouraged by the prospect of the building being a draw for new and returning students and student-athletes.

 "We believe upgraded facilities could increase a sense of pride in our athletic programs," she said. "Our athletes deserve a facility like this. We expect the best from them in practice and at game-time. They should expect the same from us and our resources."

The 63,000 square feet facility will house the Kinesiology Department, give student athletes new space to train and coaches a place to recruit. It will provide the campus with classrooms, biomechanics and exercise physiology labs, offices, lecture spaces, weight room and athletic training space. The athletic portion of the building will house locker rooms for football and women's soccer, equipment rooms and coach's offices.

 "Today we break ground on the next chapter of UT Permian Basin athletics," said Director of Athletics Scott Farmer. "This is a transformational facility that will have a direct impact on all of our 400 student-athletes, and will have an immediate effect on a Kinesiology Department that has become one of the largest and fastest-growing majors at UTPB.

Dr. Woodley foresees the new facility giving the needed space to grow academic programs. Data suggests the number of Kinesiology students will double and the number of athletic training students will triple by 2025.

 

 "We want to ramp up our ability to produce those degrees that are in high demand," President Dr. Sandra Woodley said.

The project is expected to be complete in June 2020 and ready for students in Fall 2020.