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Students try out the new $1.3 million surface of the Multi-Activity Center that has been worked on since the academic year ended, last May.
MAC gets facelift while students away for summer
The Pointer
jglod170@uwsp.edu
Returning to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point this fall, you may have noticed that the Multi-Activity Center has a different color and look to it.
In fact, the whole MAC was renovated during the summer. From the lights to the walls to the brand new reception area, there are a whole lot of changes that occurred, even more so than just the new flooring.
“The only things still there are the walls and the climbing walls,” said Fred Hebert, associate dean of the school of health, exercise science and athletics.
This MAC is a 54,000 square foot facility that houses a climbing wall, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts and an entire track and field set-up consisting most notably of a 200-meter track.
This facility was paid for originally by students and was opened in 1990. After 18 years of wear and tear, the netting was ripped and torn, the floor clicked when students ran across it as it was thinning and the basketball nets needed repairs.
UW-SP last hosted a national track championship in 2002 when the MAC was rather new, but this was not seen as possible any time soon without the renovations. With the new renovations, especially high-quality track surface, this is now seen as a feasible future goal.
“We do want to bring in a national indoor track and field championship,” said Hebert. “This new surface is the same surface as what was used in the Beijing Olympics. We’re one of two places in the United States that has this surface.”
Students may have noticed that some of the renovations have not been completely finished though. Due to some problems with the pole vaulting area’s location and covering, changes have had to be made for safety reasons.
Also, there have been concerns raised about the new flooring being made of four different types of surfaces in different areas for different uses. This has had an effect on what could be offered as far as intramurals and other activities in the MAC.
“[The new MAC flooring] has worked well for volleyball and for basketball, but due to some issues with the pole vaulting area indoor soccer had to be cancelled,” said Ed Richmond, coordinator of Campus Activities and Recreation.
The MAC is not currently being used for any intramurals that go across the multiple surfaces of the new flooring, such as indoor soccer, but Richmond believes things will be fine when they do.
“There are still issues to be resolved but I think it has the potential to be a great facility,” said Richmond.
Students have had a chance to experience most of the new MAC atmosphere.
“The MAC looks really nice,” said Andrew Letson, senior. “The color scheme makes it look very professional and the new floor is great too.”
The MAC will have its official opening ceremony and events in mid-November.
