July 23, 2010
RUSTON - In conjunction with the most historic athletics capital campaign in Louisiana Tech history, the University has launched an official Quest for Excellence website at www.quest4excellence.com.
The website is geared towards providing Louisiana Tech alums and fans a vehicle for accessing all of the information on the $20 million campaign which is centered around the construction of a 90,000-plus square-foot multipurpose facility in the south end zone of Joe Aillet Stadium. Commitments have already been made for $9 million.
Following the official announcement on the Quest for Excellence campaign, the website is completed and live as it contains the official press release, renderings of the facility, naming opportunities, messages from Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau and Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde, bios on the Leadership Team which consists of Steve Davison, Terry Bradshaw and Drake Mills as well as a link where individuals can make donations towards the project.
The website will also be used to update fans as new information is released on the project, such as additional gifts, constructional plans, and eventually facility updates.
Tech contracted with renowned sports architectural firm Populous (www.populous.com) to develop a master facility plan. As part of the partnership, Populous provided conceptual design and estimates regarding the new facility design, which focused on the needs of University students, student-athletes, fans and athletic staff.
The new facility will benefit all of Louisiana Tech's student-athletes as it will include a new academic center, a new state-of-the-art sports medicine facility and a new strength and conditioning complex.
Louisiana Tech already ranks among the state and conference leaders in student-athlete graduation rate and in Academic Progress Report rate, and the new academic center will further enhance and emphasize the University's stance on achievement in the classroom by student athletes.
Additionally, the facility will include new coaches' offices and locker rooms for football, baseball, soccer, tennis, softball, golf and track and field. It will house a new administrative suite with offices and meeting areas for the University's athletic administrative staff, including athletics director, media relations, external affairs and business office.
The new facility will also include new meeting rooms, a new auditorium that can be used for large classroom teaching on campus and team and department meetings, a Hall of Fame memorabilia area, a video room with state-of-the-art video capabilities, equipment room and a large premium seating club that will sit high above the south end zone.
At the time of the official announcement on June 29, the Leadership Team had already received initial leadership gifts come from Dr. Guthrie Jarrell, Rick Shirley, Terry Bradshaw and members of the Davison family, including James, Todd, Steve and Jim which amount to just over $9 million.
The building will be the largest athletic facility project on the Tech campus since the construction of the Thomas Assembly Center in the late 1970s and early '80s. The 180,000-plus square-foot facility cost $15.5 million and has been home to the Bulldog and Lady Techster basketball teams and Lady Techster volleyball team since it opened in the fall of 1982.
Individuals wishing to make a gift towards the Quest for Excellence campaign can do so by accessing the website or by calling Adam McGuirt at the Marbury Alumni Center at 318-255-7950.
