DePaul Unveils Renovated Sullivan Athletic Center and McGrath-Phillips Arena
Phase One of a Two Stage Facilities Upgrade Complete
The first of a two phase project that will spring DePaul Athletics into modernity was unveiled after a nine month renovation project concluded. DePaul’s Sullivan Athletic Center was in dire need of an upgrade from the time it was built. The previous iteration of the facility lacked not only design interest, but more importantly, it didn’t serve student athletes across the board. With that in mind, Transformative and Forward Thinking DePaul Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy, successfully lobbied the University to endeavor on this project that would level the playing field not just for the student athletes it served, but really install the Facility as one of the Gems of the University and of the Big East. The achievement of getting these projects approved was no small feat either. Peevy and his staff worked with University Executives, Shared Governance, and the Greater Surrounding Community for 24 months to bring this University Redefining project to fruition.
For the first time ever, every D1 Team at DePaul has their own locker room. A space for the individual student athlete to go and have their home base in a facility where they spend much of their time at. From little details of including the student athletes’ home town under their name, to the large details of dynamic team schedules being available to them via Teamworks Digital Displays in their locker room, this project really took the student athlete overall experience to heart and executed pristinely.
From recruiting to training and recovery, this project delivered something truly for all. The floor to ceiling glass walls in the new recruiting room creates a picturesque panoramic view of the fully modernized and upgraded McGrath-Phillips Arena. This space will allow for comfortable conversations to be had with prospective student athletes, their families, and coaches to discuss comfortably the greatness they can achieve at DePaul.
The new weight room sits just below the recruiting room, where it is filled with state of the art training equipment adorned with the Blue Demons Logo to industry leading technology that will give student athletes elite insights into their training allowing them to reach their full potential on the court.
After long taxing practices, training and games, the student athletes will also be able to recover in the newly renovated world class recovery space that is fitted with Therabody recovery devics, lounge chairs, and a Gatorade Fuel bar.
A few weeks back I had the opportunity to tour the project still under construction and was blown away by the attention to detail at all levels. In big bold letters the moniker of “Chicago’s Team” adorned the walls of the Athletic Center, and the hall that honors Blue Demons in the Pros from George Mikan to Mark Aguirre, Wilson Chandler, Paul Reed, Allie Quigley, Khara Smith, and Max Strus received a facelift fit to rightfully honor their legacies.
It had the feel of what a Division 1 Athletic Center SHOULD feel like. This project and its second phase will truly transform DePaul as a whole. World Class Facilities will attract world class student athletes that will go on to represent the University positively on the court with championships and off the court with accolades in their life after DePaul. What DeWayne has done in his first few years here is the groundwork necessary to transform the University’s image in Chicago and Nationally.
The second phase of this project is highlighted by the Basketball Practice facility and is working its way through approvals and planning with the City of Chicago and local government. Stay tuned for more coverage on that project as it develops.
Yesterday’s unveiling makes it a great day to be a Blue Demon, and tomorrow will be even better. The future is bright in Lincoln Park.