Almost 18 months have passed since construction and improvement work began on the old Sherwood Athletic Center. To Athletic Director Dean Snider, the new and improved center has a lot to show off.

“It’s taken years of planning and rebuilding to get to this point. It feels good to finally have it come together like this,” Snider said.

Catering to the wants and needs of athletic groups, students and other members of the community, the center has a more accommodating feel.

“The number one request from varsity athletes was the set up of team rooms,” Snider said, pointing out three men’s team rooms and three women’s, complete with locker space and saunas.

Other than varsity athletes, Sherwood meets the needs of dancers, theatre students and yoga and pilates enthusiasts. Three dance studios, complete with mirrors, curtains and new floors are open for use.

Intramural sport athletes who have used the smaller of the two old Sherwood gyms will now be able to use a gym of over 16,000 square feet, which is almost the same size as the main gym used for basketball games. Snider said that finding adequate space for practice is “always a challenge.” The new gym may solve the problem of space since it also offers natural light, bleachers and batting cages for the baseball team.

Boasting a greener space, Sherwood’s multiple skylights invite in more daylight to illuminate the several spots. The “light-harvesting system” in the lower gym senses the amount of natural light coming in and adds artificial light if necessary.

Near the main campus entrance, the rain garden takes in rain from the roof, which reduces the amount of wasted water.

New technology in smart classrooms and video screening and editing rooms make Sherwood up to speed with the needs of teams and classes.

The new indoor climbing wall spans almost 40 feet high and over 100 feet wide. Snider credits Outdoor Program Director Brian Sheedy for his work on the wall.

“Brian Sheedy is the guy who really helped out with the creation of this wall. This might be the nicest, most innovative collegiate climbing wall in the country,” Snider said.

Students who have observed the changes over the last year and a half are excited to see the final product as the school year begins.

“I was pretty impressed when they finished the rock wall and the addition on the west side: it really makes it look more welcoming,” senior Kali Stoer said.

The Sherwood Athletic Center is now open for the year.