FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Athletic Complex News Release

September 16, 2019

New College (NEC) is pleased to announce a $5 million anonymous pledged gift to support the design and construction of a new, 45,000 square foot Athletic Complex on its Henniker campus. President Michele Perkins, speaking to the College community, stated that “This transformative gift has already spurred progress toward additional five, six, and seven figure gifts, with the goal of raising $12 million. We hope to begin construction on the Complex in spring of 2020 and open in 2022.” The gift announced today, and the additional gifts anticipated for the Athletic Complex, come on top of the College’s $40 million plus capital campaign concluding in January, the largest campaign in the College’s history.

Designed by distinguished architect Scott Simpson, a New England College Trustee who is contributing his services, the Athletic Complex will join the John Lyons Center (opened 2016) and the Rosamond Page Putnam Center for the Performing Arts (opening January 2020) to complete NEC’s campus master plan.

For decades a leader in competitive sports for men and women, athletics and fitness are key features of NEC’s mission. Perkins added, “the new facility bolsters our standing in NCAA Division III athletic competition and underscores our commitment to the scholar/athlete and personal fitness.”

NEC enrolled 356 varsity athletes in 2018, and with dozens more students participating in club or recreational sports, athletic participants total half of the enrolled student body. During the 2018-2019 academic year, NEC athletes won a school record four conference championships in men’s , women’s , men’s lacrosse, and women’s . Men’s lacrosse has won four championships in a row since 2016, another record

New England College athletes come from all over the United States and all over the world. This regular inflow of students from diverse geographic regions has helped NEC develop markets for non-athletes in Maryland, Florida, Texas, California, and even Hawaii. Athletes not only excel in sport but are among the College’s most successful academically. Director of Athletics, Dave DeCew, noted, “the new Center will be another step on the path to an even better program, making NEC more attractive to students across the country and around the world. It’s a sign of the College’s commitment to the players, the coaches, the whole team effort. I could not be more pleased with this news.”

Estimated to cost approximately $15 million, NEC plans to secure at least $7 million in additional leadership gifts before moving to final design for the Center, which will occupy a total of over 45,000 square feet, over half of which will be a new, 25,000 square foot gymnasium that will provide a regulation-size court for competition in basketball, , and wrestling. With seating for up to 1,300 spectators, the new gym will allow NEC to host NCAA sanctioned tournaments and competitions. It will be a showcase for visitors, greatly amplifying student recruitment. Additionally, there will be a new building for offices and meeting rooms, along with a larger, glass-enclosed lobby area. The new buildings will also house a large fitness center, training rooms, locker rooms, and other amenities.

The new, large fitness center will be located at the ground level and will enjoy a wall of windows looking out to the . There will be locker rooms specifically for fitness center visitors, separate from team lockers located at the other side of the building.

A new façade will unify new and renovated buildings, making current facilities more functional and integrating them into the emerging campus aesthetic.