July 14, 2014 will go down as an impactful day for the IUPUI campus as Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Indiana University President Michael McRobbie, the Lilly Endowment and several other organizations announced that the IU Natatorium - which lies in the heart of the IUPUI campus – will undergo a joint $30 million renovation to better connect the historic venue to surrounding communities.
The renovations to Natatorium will include a new roof, heating and cooling system, pool filtration, lighting, skylights, and other mechanical repairs with most of the improvements set to be completed prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Diving Trials in 2016. $10 million of the renovations will come from Indiana University, while the Lilly Endowment will match IU's investment pending final approvals from its partners.
"This project involves several partners coming together to benefit the city of Indianapolis and the IUPUI campus," IUPUI Director of Athletics Mike Moore said. "The Natatorium is a special place in our community and these improvements will impact swimmers and divers of all ages, including our student-athletes."
The IU Natatorium has been the home of the IUPUI men's and women's swimming and diving teams since their inception in 1998, and it has served as the site of several world-class swimming events such as the 1987 Pan Am Games, and the U.S. Olympic Trials for swimming, diving and synchronized swimming.
"Today's announcement is not only a big deal for us, but for the entire Indiana swimming community," Head Coach Matt Bos said. "In college athletics, facilities play a large role in recruiting and anytime you have the chance to call the Natatorium your home you are in select company. We have always been privileged to call the Natatorium our home and now it will be taken to a different level."
In addition to the renovations to the Natatorium, the city of Indianapolis will contribute $10 million to transform Michigan and New York Streets into two-way streets from West Street through campus into Haughville. The street improvements will consist of safer pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, bike lanes, specialized lighting, decorative signage, public art, grass medians, trees and rain gardens. Road construction is expected to begin next year.
