"We want it to be the centerpiece of the campus," saiduniversity president Paul Gaffney at this weekend's formalgroundbreaking. "The facility fits the notion of overallwellness."

Personal fitness facilities are part of the complex's mission.The centerpiece, however, will be a new 4,100-seat sports arena,which will replace the aging Boylan Gymnasium as the home of theschool's basketball and other teams. It will be physicallyconnected to the old gym, which will be converted to intramuralsports and community use. The site is also adjacent to KesslerField, the school's football stadium.

Besides the arena and the personal fitness facilities, the MACwill also include an indoor track, locker rooms, educational andadministrative space, and conference space. The university'sbookstore will also be relocated from its current site on campus tothe new complex.