By Jill Gosche
Staff Writer
jgosche@advertiser-tribune.com
Article Photos
PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE
Michael Grandillo, Tiffin University’s
vice president for development and public affairs, speaks during the dedication
ceremony Friday afternoon.
"Wow" is the one word that comes to President Paul Marion's mind when he walks in Tiffin University's Heminger Center.
"This building is a 'wow,'" he said.
Marion, who spoke during the dedication for Heminger Center Friday afternoon, said the all-purpose building, which officials expect will be used for trade shows and conferences, is a wonderful addition to TU's campus.
Fact Box
By the numbers
About $2 million in grants
3.5 acres under the roof
37,000 square feet in indoor practice facility
54,000 square feet in field house
13,000 square feet in the connector building
25 Olympic-sized swimming pools that could be filled with the concrete used
9,834 tons of crushed limestone used as a base to pour concrete floors, sidewalks and asphalt parking
More than 60,000 concrete blocks and bricks used on the walls
1,420 gallons of paint used
More than 25 miles of wire installed
40 feet, 8 inches is the highest point of the field house
100 jobs added to TU as a result of the project
"We're very proud of it," he said.
According to information from TU, the facility was named for Gary and Jane Heminger in recognition of a gift for construction of the state-of-the-art facility and other positive contributions to TU.
Gary Heminger, a 1976 TU graduate, has served on the board of trustees since 1991 and has been its chairman since 1996, it states. He is the president and CEO of Marathon Petroleum Corp.
Heminger, who received a standing ovation, said the building is not just a recreation center. It is about health, fitness, education, wellness and bringing the community together, he said.
Heminger said when he and his wife talked about helping with the construction, they didn't want it to be named for them.
"We wanted this named for our family. ... It's not about Jane and I. It's about the community," he said.
The building, which includes an indoor track, multi-purpose courts, offices, classrooms and an artificial turf area, is on the former site of the Rosenblatt scrapyard. Cleanup of the property started in 2003, with construction beginning seven years later.
Erin Hazelton, a brownfield specialist through Ohio Department of Development's urban development division, said projects of the recreation center's magnitude and level of transformation take a lot of talent.
Hazelton, who has been involved in the project for about two and a half years, said the building is an asset to students, TU and Tiffin.
"What a difference this is," she said.
TU surpassed the goal for its "Share the Pride, Build on Tradition" campaign that sought to raise $12 million to fund the recreation center, endowed student scholarships and other campus developments. As of Friday, it had raised $13.8 million, according to information from the school.
Michael Grandillo, TU's vice president for development and public affairs, said there is more to be raised.
"It's not over," Marion said of the campaign.
The building is to be used for today's commencement ceremony.
