Dear Samford community,
Later today, Samford will announce an exciting new capital project that represents the next phase in our campus master plan – a new recreation and wellness complex that will serve students and employees for decades to come. A dramatic renovation of Seibert Hall that includes approximately 20,000 square feet of new construction, along with renovations to Bashinsky Fieldhouse and the first floor of the Dwight and Lucille Beeson Center, will create much needed recreation, fitness, athletic, campus event, dining, and fellowship spaces, along with new spaces for physical and mental health counseling. The project will also create dedicated practice facilities for Samford’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs as well as covered practice spaces for football.
Read more about this project. Construction will begin later this year and is scheduled to be completed for the start of the fall 2024 semester.
I am grateful to members of Samford’s board of trustees for their vision and commitment. The $65 million price tag will be paid using funds from a variety of sources including approximately $20 million from generous donors. I also want to thank Mr. Buck Brock, Dr. Colin Coyne, and Mr. Jeff Poleshek for leading a much larger team of colleagues representing student affairs, academic affairs, financial and business affairs, enrollment management, university advancement, and athletics during the visioning, programming, and design phases of the project. Many students also gave their valuable input which has made the project much better. I’m also grateful to our project partners, Davis Architects and Hoar Construction, for their important involvement and continued activity as the construction comes to life.
More information will be shared in coming months about construction timelines, phasing, and other details, but for now, I wanted you to know how excited I am about this important investment in residential life at Samford. Thanks for all you do to make this place so amazing. I hope you are enjoying your summer activities.
Go Bulldogs!