Carter Brown – Staff Writer

The $60 million expansion and renovation of the Lund Center is coming along nicely. It is a multiphase project that will span over the next two years and should conclude by early to mid 2023. The project will include new and improved spaces for wellness, health and wellness related academic programs, athletics, and training.
With all the changes happening in Lund one might wonder how the status of operations might be affected. Director of Athletics Tom Brown provides some insight on this topic.
“There should be little or no effect on classes held in Lund this fall or in J-Term. As for the spring semester, there will be minimal classes held in Lund. Students will [still] be able to use Lund for the majority of this academic year. I am waiting to hear back from Health and Exercise Science (HES) on the exact effect on classes in Lund, so my response might change.” Brown said.
This project is broken up into two phases. Phase One is primarily focused on the expansion of Lund, which is a 72,000 square foot addition to the center. Phase Two will be the conclusion of the project which is projected to be in 2023.
“The 12-month Phase One of the expansion and renovation…includes fitness facilities [that can be] utilized by all members of the Gustavus community such as expanded cardio and weight room spaces, locker room renovations, and new office spaces.” Brown said. “If funding goes as expected, we will start the renovation part of the project sometime in April or May of 2022.”
There are a few new additions that students can look forward to seeing after everything is said and done with. These additions include wellness facilities, a new academic wing with new classrooms, faculty offices, and a 118-seat lecture hall, a Human Performance Lab which will support student research, a new 53,000 square foot field house with synthetic turf to allow for all-season practice, recreational spaces for students, teams, varsity sports, and intramural leagues, and new locker rooms described as “state-of-the-art” to provide better in-class
environments for students and employees alike.
It can also be noted that the wellness facilities will be more than triple their original size and will house an expanded weight room, cardio, and group fitness spaces. In addition, the Human Performance Lab will be more than double the size of the original as well. These renovations mean bigger spaces for all and much needed improvements and updates. This will be a beneficial change from the previous Lund Center.