With the completion of the Pohanka Fine Arts Center, Saint James looks to begin construction of the Turner Athletic Center, the next capital project as part of the $35 million Make A Difference Campaign.

Due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school delayed starting construction of the Turner Athletic Center for the past year. We now hope to break ground in the fall on the new building, which will be added as an expansion on the west side of Alumni Hall.

Plans for the Turner Athletic Center were reconsidered during the delay, with MSB Architects of Hagerstown modifying the building to better meet the school's needs.

"We took advantage of the extra year in order to reduce our footprint and the cost of the new building, and really open up the back of the building to let in more air and light," said Father Dunnan. "We also wanted the design to allow for additional space for an indoor turf field for recreational play and team practices during the winter
or when it's raining in the spring and fall. This could be particularly helpful for soccer and lacrosse."

The turf field will cost approximately $3 million and might not be built during the initial construction of the athletic center, but the space has been considered in the new plans to allow for it down the road.

Another advantage of the new plans is that we gain two distinct entrances.

"We wanted to tie the building more effectively into Alumni Hall, so that the existing entrance will have an internal feel to it, focusing on locker rooms, training rooms, and fitness spaces," said Father Dunnan. "The new entrance would be for visitors with a lobby, new bathroom spaces, a snack bar, a performance gymnasium for basketball and volleyball, a practice basketball court, and a new wrestling space."

The Turner Athletic Center will also make the school more visually attractive to visitors approaching from Lappans Road, showing off common design themes of stone, glass, and brick. Just as we have provided a grand space for the arts with the Pohanka Fine Arts Center, the Turner Athletic Center will give our students a facility that will greatly enhance our athletic programs.

If you are interested in supporting the Make A Difference Campaign, please contact Dr. Joseph Regan at 301-671-4894 or jcregan@stjames.edu.