Acknowledging fundraising difficulties for the proposed Nelson Fitness Center, the University is currently discussing with donors how best to proceed with the project, and it is likely to move forward with a new pool independent of the fitness center, said Richard Spies, executive vice president for planning and senior adviser to President Ruth Simmons.
Officials had once hoped to build the new pool and the fitness center in tandem, as they will occupy adjacent lots, Spies said. But a $14.75 million bequest toward construction on a new swim center, which the Corporation formally accepted last month, may allow the University to break ground on a new pool long before plans for the fitness center are finalized.
While the fitness center donors - of whom there are "less than a dozen" - are being consulted, the project, which has been in the planning stages for about five years, is currently "on hold."
Spies said the fitness center and the new pool would ideally be designed and built at the same time.
"If it were possible, we would want to plan them together," he said. "It all depends on fundraising questions."
The University cannot begin construction on either project until 90 percent of the funds are identified under guidelines set by the Corporation at their meeting in February, Spies said. But while about half of the funds for the $50 million project were "pledged" by 2007, the cash currently on hand is "significantly less than that," he said.
He admitted that there was some "uncertainty" about the University's ability to raise the remaining funds. Those concerns will be raised in discussions with current donors, after which the University will be in a position to make further decisions on the project.
"We hope this delay is relatively brief," he said.
Spies did not offer any possible alternative paths that the University might take with construction of the athletic facilities.
Jonathan Nelson '77 - CEO of the private investment firm Providence Equity Partners - donated $10 million to the project in 2004. His gift, along with those of Fredric Garonzik '64 and Daniel O'Connell '76, formed the original $20 million specifically allocated to the project.
