Spanning 265,000-square-feet, Wittenberg University's Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex is now among the finest facilities in NCAA Division III. In addition to classroom spaces and athletic training facilities, the complex offers practice and competition facilities that benefit all 25 intercollegiate athletics teams at Wittenberg, in addition to dozens of club sport teams and intramural opportunities open to every student at the University. The features include:
The Steemer
The hidden, grassy outdoor practice space that previously graced the northern edge of the HPER Center, which was built in 1982, has been replaced with an impressive 135,000-square-foot indoor athletics facility called The Steemer, thanks to a lead gift given by Wes Bates, chairman and CEO of Dublin-based Stanley Steemer, and wife Ann Bates, both Wittenberg class of 1970.
The Steemer includes a six-lane, 300-meter track and an artificial turf playing surface that will accommodate football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey. To accommodate the baseball and softball teams, batting cages attached to the ceiling are part of the design, in addition to a new 7,000-square-foot strength center.
This best-in-class indoor practice experience is already attracting the attention of regional partners, while it serves as a catalyst for innovation and engagement.
The Steemer also provides new amenities for historic Edwards-Maurer Field, where the Tiger track and field, football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey teams all play their home games. The Steemer features a new pressbox with plenty of space to accommodate media members and game management personnel, a concession stand, a suite for gathering and entertaining, and restroom facillities.
1929 Fieldhouse
The newly renovated, historic 1929 Fieldhouse is now an epicenter of activity with technology-enabled classrooms, modernized court surfaces for volleyball and basketball, and open office spaces. Recognizing the outstanding tradition of athletics excellence that has defined Wittenberg, the University insisted on preserving the historic building as it looked to expand its facilities for the next generation of students and student-athletes alike.
Originally built in 1929, the Fieldhouse has long featured a range of office and classroom spaces, a gymnasium with a performance stage, and a natatorium in the basement. The building has gone through numerous transformations in the last century, most notably with the natatorium becoming a strength and fitness center and the gymnasium becoming strictly a practice facility with the construction of the HPER Center in 1982.
Following the completion of the first phase of the Health, Wellness & Athletics restoration and expansion initiative, the 1929 Fieldhouse basement is now home to multiple locker rooms, storage areas, and a new state-of-the-art athletic training facility. In addition, classrooms and offices on the second and third floors have been transformed into modern spaces to work and study. The gymnasium also has been transformed, featuring new flooring and improved lighting and ventilation, all while maintaining its most charming historical characteristics.
Classroom and Community Spaces
Dated, interior spaces within the facilities were renovated to include a strength training and wellness center, a multipurpose recreational room for group fitness classes, and spacious gathering spots in which students can study or relax. These areas will also be used for recruitment-centered needs.
Wittenberg's commitment to wholeness of person is also infused throughout the facilities, including in academic programming that emphasizes health, fitness and sport. Degree programs in Sport Management, Exercise Science, and a Master of Arts in Athletic Coaching are among the areas of academic study that are utilizing the HWA Complex through the Health, Fitness and Sport department.
Locker Rooms
New team locker rooms have been installed throughout the Health, Wellness and Athletics Complex, providing needed accommodations for Wittenberg teams, visiting teams, officials, and community members utilizing the facilities.
Defined by competitive spirit and Tiger pride, Wittenberg has ensured that its new facility provides student-athletes with locker rooms that feel like second homes before, during and after their respective sports seasons. Conveniently located near all training facilities, the rooms are filled with brand-new, durable, long-lasting lockers that offer security, charging stations, and storage components. They also reflect the Tiger legacy.