KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Western Michigan University Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae announced last week a partnership with Gensler Sports Design to develop a long-term facility master plan for the university’s athletic department.
“We’ve got six strategic goals but one of them is elevating our facilities,” said Bartholomae who stressed that one goal through the partnership with Gensler focuses squarely on improving facilities for both student athletes and spectators to include streamlined workout equipment to more efficient and user friendly concession facilities.
“And so partnering with Gensler sort of allows us to take a step back, take a global look at our, get some feedback from our fans, our student athletes, from our coaches on what are our needs, and then Gensler will help us design some, either facility renovations or new facilities or facility improvements that’ll get it solving as many facility problems as we can,” said Bartholomae who noted that feedback will factor into their 10-year-plan, with Gensler Sports Design balancing out that feedback.
“So having a 10-year-plan with concept designs, with renders, with cost allows us to go out and seek support that we’ll need to get those projects done.”
Bartholomae expects this process to continue through the academic year with concept designs completed in Spring of 2023.
