Southwestern Athletic Conference

ITTA BENA, Miss. – Mississippi Valley State University unveiled its plan to renovate and expand the Robert W. Harrison Health, Physical Education and Recreation Complex. MVSU acting president, Dr. Alfred Rankins, made the announcement during a news conference on Thursday (May 23).

 

The renovation of the existing facility will consist of exterior repairs, life safety and accessibility upgrades. The R.W. Harrison HPER Complex serves as the home site for MVSU volleyball and basketball games. The building has not experienced renovations or upgrades since its construction in 1977.

Renovatons are slated to begin in the fall. During the enhancements, the MVSU women’s volleyball team will host games in the Charles Lackey Building on campus. A decision has not been finalized regarding where the MVSU men and women’s basketball teams will play its home games during the phase. Plans are in place for the teams to play in the new arena beginning in 2015.

According to the Clarion Ledger, The state's College Board recently approved an additonal $11 million dollars to the budget.

The total $17.5 million project will give the University another asset to use for recruiting and retaining students. The state-of-the-art building will include classrooms and equipment, as well as a health and wellness center.

The $17.5 million will pay for the first phase of planned work. A second phase to renovate the swimming pool and provide support space for academic functions of the school's health, physical education and recreation department is also included in the future planning.

 

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• Three technology HPER classrooms that will accommodate approximately 35 students each

• Office space for HPER staff

• Weight training room

• Cardio Workout Room & Studio

• A concourse that will double as a walking track

• Bleachers in the arena will retract to accommodate four HPER instructional courts

• More than 2,700 seats for athletic events

• More than 2,800 seats for an end stage event and commencement exercises

• Home men’s and women’s locker rooms

• Home women’s volleyball locker room

• Visitor locker rooms

• Recreational locker rooms

• Officials’ Locker/Green Room

• Spectator’s restrooms and concessions

• 87,042 total sq. ft.