Marmion Academy unveils new field house Sunday
Marmion Academy in Aurora will dedicate its new Regole Field House at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. The 36,150-square-foot addition to the Marmion campus is named in honor of Edward and Vivienne Regole of St. Charles and in memory of Edward Regole’s parents, Gertrude and Maurice Regole Sr. Edward and Vivienne’s personal gift and Gertrude’s estate gift underwrote the majority of the $5.3 million construction and furnishings costs. Edward Regole, a 1950 graduate of Marmion Academy, was an honorary chairman of the recently completed Campaign Marmion. His brothers, the late Maurice Jr. and John, also are Marmion graduates.
The public is welcome to attend the dedication at 2 p.m. and the open house that follows the ceremony in the new Regole Field House.
The Regole Field House is connected to the east side of Alumni Hall, Marmion’s gymnasium building. It compliments the gymnasium and provides expanded room for multiple games, track events, practices and activities. Alumni Hall remains the athletic competition gymnasium and auditorium, and was recently improved with new bleachers that expanded the seating capacity to 1,400.
“The new Regole Field House will provide relief for the many competing time demands for floor space,” states Marmion’s Athletic Director Joe Chivari. “For decades the gymnasium had to provide space for practices and games for three levels of basketball, training and conditioning for all athletes, JROTC drill and ceremonies, Flannigan Drill Team practices and events, physical education classes, recreational and informal sports activities, assemblies and alumni events.”
The Regole Field House has three basketball courts, with an overlapping center competition court and divider curtains; three tennis courts; a four-lane running track, 10 laps equals 1,600 meters, and a six-lane 55 meter straightaway; high-jump, pole vault and long-jump/triple-jump facilities; and two batting cages for baseball and golf. Included are two large storage rooms for athletic equipment and tables and chairs.
When additional gift funds are available, the Regole Field House will be joined by a new Welcome Center with a large public lobby, and a new Music Center for Marmion’s extensive music programs, both instrumental and voice.
The Regole Field House was part of the $26 million Campaign Marmion for capital construction and endowment goals. Included was the renovation of science classrooms into a state-of-the-art Science Center, completed in 2010, as well as much needed improvements to the campus infrastructure with new roads and parking, storm sewers, and upgraded electrical and water service, new playing fields, i.e. eight tennis courts, two baseball fields, two soccer and lacrosse fields, and three football practice areas and extensive improvements to Fichtel Field such as new stadium lights, track resurfacing and fencing.
For more information visit marmion.org.