Leavey gets makeover

By Gabe Taylor

The Leavey Center received a major face lift this past summer.

Built in 1975, Leavey was last renovated in 2001.

This past summer's transformation was major, with the addition and movement of offices, as well as the reconstruction of the bleachers in the stadium.

"We've been talking about this for years," said Jon Clough, senior associate athletic director.

Clough said Joe Sugg, assistant vice president of university operations, also assisted with the renovations.

Financial road blocks have been some of the reasons for the delayed start of any projects in Leavey.

"We needed to put our money into other things more important than building this, like professors and students," Clough said. "There's not money floating out there."

Before this year, one full side of stands in Leavey were old and adjustable.

Over the summer, stationary stands were put in.

These stands have a more professional appearance and are safer than their adjustable counterpart, Clough said.

Grouped along with the new bleachers is a prize pack for students.

The student section has also been expanded. The section used to stretch from sections 106 to 109, and it now ranges from 106 to 111, reaching from the low stands on one side of the court to behind the basketball hoop.

"You've seen Duke, you've seen Stanford, where the whole sideline is students. That's what we're hoping for," Clough said.

The downside of the reconstruction was the loss of a practice court and four offices, two of which were occupied by cross country coaches.

Clough also said that the capacity of the stands has decreased slightly.

However, there are plans to build seats so that they angle off on either side, mirroring the stands on the opposite side. These angled seats would increase capacity in the stadium.

Several librarians also had cubicles on the second floor of Leavey. They now have new offices in the library, and the Leavey staff has freedom in their decisions as to what to do with the newly-opened area.

"The second floor of Leavey was used for the library and they've moved out now," Athletic Director Dan Coonan said.

"We plan on putting the coaches' office on the second floor of Leavey. That will also enable us to do something with their old offices behind the new bleachers. We're not sure what we want to do, but it'll come down to funding," Coonan said.

However, one of the problems is that only a handful of walls have been added, therefore, cubicles still form the layout of the second floor.

"Coaches like to have offices. You don't want a cubicle," Clough said.

Seven years ago, many coaches' offices were in trailers, he said.

"It's a huge jump from where we were," he added.

With all of the major movement that has been taking place in Leavey, it has been hard for everyone to be completely satisfied with their temporary offices.

Cross country Head Coach Tom Service now works in what used to be a conference room. Cross country Assistant Coach Felipe Montoro temporarily does not have an office but has a desk in an open work space.

The coaches are working in these temporary spaces because their old office space was lost with the addition of the new risers in the stadium.

"The offices aren't very much different than what they used to have," Clough said. "They understand that we have to do this."

Clough hopes that the new renovations to the Leavey Center will ultimately attract more fans to games.

Contact Gabe Taylor at (408) 551-1918 or gtaylor@scu.edu.