Renovations began the day after Spring Commencement on the New Butler-Hancock Athletic Center on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado. The renovations and new construction to the 37-year-old building will transform the facility into a showcase for Northern Colorado athletics.

The state-of-the-art renovation features new multifunction classroom spaces, large flexible meeting spaces, a video center, the new home to the Athletic Medicine Teaching Center, including the relocation of the Dan Libera Athletic Training Room, which will include a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool, the new Athletics Strength and Conditioning Center, new spacious team rooms for the softball and wrestling programs, renovations to the swimming & diving locker facility, lockers and changing spaces for all athletic teams and a renovated football team room, including custom designed lockers and two coaches locker rooms.

The signature piece of the project that is expected to be complete in June 2010 is the long-awaited Northern Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame and Sports Museum to be built on the north side of the center. The Hall of Fame will proudly display the names of student-athletes, coaches and contributors enshrined in the Hall of Fame and feature a video display system enabling visitors to call up the Hall of Fame member and view the accomplishment of the member.

All the new and renovated spaces are designed to serve student-athletes, fans and alumni with the highest level of quality and amenities. There are hospitality areas for game-day and special events featuring color graphics and large murals adjacent to the Athletic Hall of Fame and Sports Museum, which will highlight an athletic tradition rich in history and become a destination location for visitors to Greeley.

The University contracted with international contractor Hensel Phelps Construction, based in Greeley since 1937, for the construction and renovation, while partnering with Denver-based Sink Combs Dethlefs to provide quality building design, architectural and engineering services.

The New Butler-Hancock Athletic Center will proudly be the first building at UNC certified as meeting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for "green" buildings. LEED designation certifies that a building meets a wide range of environmentally friendly criteria.

With this renovation and addition to Butler-Hancock, UNC will enjoy one of the finest on-campus athletic facilities in the Big Sky Conference. Please take a look at the articles above for more information on each stage of the renovations.