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Published September 12, 2019

PISCATAWAY – Rutgers Athletics held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center at Rutgers University. The 307,000-square-foot, four-story sports facility and parking deck serves as headquarters for a world-class sports medicine program and provides state-of-the-art practice facilities, training areas, locker room and office space for men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling and gymnastics.

The RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center represents a partnership between Rutgers and RWJBarnabas Health to create a comprehensive sports medicine program to serve Rutgers athletes, students and communities throughout New Jersey. RWJBarnabas Health is the exclusive health care provider for Rutgers University Athletics.

A high-performance nutrition café available to all student-athletes, as well as a Rutgers Team Store open to the public, are also included. The facility rose via partnership, tax credits under an Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant, and the “R Big Ten Build” campaign for new athletics facilities. An initial ground-breaking for the Center was held on Nov. 1, 2016, before a topping off celebration on June 4, 2018, to symbolize the placement of the final piece of structural steel.

Rutgers University Dr. Robert L. Barchi, RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Barry Ostrowsky, Rutgers University Board of Governors Chair Mark Angelson, Chancellor Dr. Christopher Molloy, Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Pikiell and student-athlete Arella Guirantes all made remarks during the ceremony, which was streamed live by RVision.

Launched on Jan. 20, 2016, “R Big Ten Build” has raised $101,220,854.00 in public and private support from 4,159 contributors. Facilities to rise via the initiative include the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center, the Marco Battaglia Practice Complex, the Fred Hill Baseball/Softball Training Complex, the Harriett and Bob Druskin Strength and Conditioning Center, the Ron and Joanna Garutti Strength and Conditioning Center, and The Brown Family Football Locker Room.


The RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center at a Glance
Total Area: 307,000sf • Athletics Area: 134,000sf
Parking Deck Area: 173,000sf (535 spaces) • Total Site Area: 6.2 acres

Public Areas

  • The Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Lobby (6,250sf)
  • Rutgers Team Store (775sf)

Shared Support

  • RWJBarnabas Health clinic & exam facilities (3,025sf, x-ray machine, two consultation rooms, procedure room and three exam rooms)
  • Sports medicine and hydrotherapy (two plunge pools)
  • “Platek Family Strength and Conditioning Area” (6,950sf, 40-yard inlaid turf track, cryotherapy chamber, individualized student-athlete monitoring technology, floor-to-ceiling windows providing outer grounds access)
  • Equipment Room (two 60lb washers, two 60lb dryers, two 80lb washers, two 80lb dryers, 96 secured student-athlete cubbies)
  • “Tim Burklow ’91 and Linda Burklow Men’s Staff Locker Room”
  • Women’s Staff Locker Room
  • High performance nutrition café (6,450sf, “Magno Family Nutritionist’s Office”)
  • “Patrick and Mary Ellen Morris Student-Athlete Lounge”
  • “Dr. Michael Kerner, Cynthia Kerner and Family Basketball Spectator Terrace” (885sf with viewing access to men’s and women’s basketball practice courts)
  • “Magno Family Closing Room” (625sf, privacy shading technology)
    Roof Terrace (6,500sf)

Gymnastics

  • 11,850sf training area with two foam pits, Olympic-caliber equipment, stationary bikes, Pelotons and Stairmaster
  • Additional sports medicine training area
  • Connecting locker room with 22 lockers
  • Coaching and administrative offices (1,625sf) that overlooks training area

Wrestling

  • Practice area (8,950sf with three regulation mats)
  • “A Gift from an Anonymous Donor Wrestling Locker Room” (2,021sf with 30 lockers)
  • Coaching and administrative offices (1,550sf, Assistant Coach Office “Dedicated in the Memory of Sam Cali,” Assistant Coach Office “Given in Honor of the 1969-70 Wrestling Team by Anonymous Donor,” “Stuart and Susan Kohn Director of Operations Office”)
  • “Scalo Family Wrestling Lounge”

Women’s Basketball

  • Practice court (10,925sf, full court and a half with seven baskets, adjoined to 1,252sf “Guiliano Family Basketball Treatment Center”)
  • “Club 55 Women’s Basketball Lounge Gifted by The Certosimo Family” (2,272sf, kitchenette and gaming area)
  • Film study room (632sf)
  • Women’s basketball locker room (16 lockers)
  • Women’s basketball office suite (1,925sf, “C. Vivian Stringer Women’s Basketball Head Coach’s Office gifted by John and Barbara Broggi,” Assistant Coach’s Office “In Honor of Theresa Grentz Donated by Kate Sweeney CC ’79, Krystal Canady DC ’85 and Women’s Basketball Letterwinners,” “Bob and Glenys Manfre Assistant Coach’s Office,” “Mike and Jean MacDonald Conference Room II”)

Men’s Basketball

  • Brown Family Practice Court (10,925sf, full court and a half with seven baskets, adjoined to 1,252sf “Guiliano Family Basketball Treatment Center”)
  • “Champions Club Men’s Basketball Lounge gifted by the Certosimo Family” (2,272 sf, kitchenette & gaming area)
  • Film study room (632sf, “Ed and Honora Muroch Memorial Video Coordinator Room”)
  • “Fox Wheeler Men’s Basketball Locker Room” (16 lockers)
  • “Gary and Barbara Rodkin Men’s Basketball Office Suite” (1,925sf, “Newcomb Family Head Coach’s Office, “Dr. Michael Kerner ’67, Cynthia Kerner and Family Assistant Coach’s Office,” “Michael J. Blecker, M.D. ’67, Nan M. Blecker and Bradford R. Blecker Assistant Coach’s office,” Assistant Coach’s Office “In Memory of Coach Bill Foster Donated by his Players, Coaches, and Managers,” “Mike and Jean MacDonald Conference Room I”)

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Story originally appeared in Rutgers Today