Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 6/15/99
      Contact:                           Tim Ardillo

SOUTHEASTERN BREAKS GROUND ON HEALTH & WELLNESS
BUILDING
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University broke ground recently on its new $8.6
million health and wellness building which will be located on the corner of University Avenue
and North General Pershing.
     The new two-story building will be home to the department of recreational sports and
wellness directed by Dollie Hebert. The new facility will have four basketball courts, men's and
women's locker rooms, a 11,000 square foot weight/fitness room, three racquetball courts, a juice
bar, and meeting rooms.
     In addition to housing the offices of the assistant dean of student development and the
recreational sports and wellness staff, the health and wellness building will also have a
walking/running track and two aerobics rooms.
     Southeastern President Sally Clausen said she is excited to see this new facility in the
construction phase.
     "Aside from work, one of my personal passions is health and fitness," Clausen said. "This
new building will provide our students with one more option in healthy lifestyle choices. I am
certain that it will be well received."
     According to Michael Rickenbaker, director of facility planning at Southeastern, the new
health and wellness building is expected to be completed in December of 2000.  Construction of
the new facility is being funded primarily by student assessed fees.
     The current health and wellness facility, commonly known as "Old Men's Gym," is not
air conditioned and was constructed in 1966.
     The contractor for the new health and wellness building is Frank A. Anzalone General
Contractors, Inc. of Hammond and the architects are Gossen-Gasaway-Holloway LTD of
Hammond and Singleton-Holloman Architects of Jackson, Mississippi.
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