Groundbreaking ceremony for Charger Center on Aug. 27 at Sandburg

 Sandburg will host a ceremonial groundbreaking for the construction of the Charger Center at 4 p.m. Aug. 27 on the college’s Galesburg campus.

 

WHAT
Charger Center ceremonial groundbreaking

 

WHEN
4-5 p.m. Aug. 27

 

WHERE
Outside building G on the Galesburg campus, 2051 Tom L. Wilson Blvd. Parking will be available in the lots next to building C and building G.

 

WHO
Speaking at the event will be:

• President Dr. Seamus Reilly

• Board of Trustees Chair Josh Gibb

• Student trustee and men’s soccer team member Theo Salim

 

ABOUT THE CHARGER CENTER

The Charger Center is a 70,204-square-foot athletic and conference space that will serve as the new home for Sandburg’s athletic programs and support additional academic and community use. Initial work on the project began earlier this month.

 

With an anticipated opening in late 2027, the Charger Center will include:

• Two wood-floor gymnasiums for athletic competitions and large events

• An additional gymnasium with multi-purpose flooring

• Fitness and training areas

• A golf simulator room

• An esports arena

• Multi-purpose areas

• Turf fields for baseball, softball and soccer

 

Designed by Legat Architects, the Charger Center will be located in the southeast portion of the Galesburg campus, next to building G. The front of the building will look across Tom L. Wilson Blvd. toward the rest of the Galesburg campus. Turf playing fields will be located on the south side of the Charger Center.

 

The new facility will be a dramatic upgrade from the current gymnasium, which has been the Chargers’ home since its opening in 1978, and the existing fitness center, which opened in the early 1990s. It’s the latest step in a campus master plan that has served as a roadmap for improvements and developments on Sandburg’s grounds in recent and coming years. Completed phases of the plan include the 2024 opening of the Science & Technology Center and the 2025 unveiling of the renovated Student Center.

 

The new facility also will provide more opportunities for the college to host area youth and high school teams for practices, games and tournaments. In addition to serving as an athletic space, the Charger Center will provide a venue capable of hosting large regional events such as job fairs and agriculture expos as well as the college’s annual commencement.