Virginia Wesleyan’s athletic complex has a dramatic new centerpiece. The
Alpine Tower—a 52-foot wooden structure designed for climbing and
teambuilding exercises—has a new home on campus adjacent to the Trinder
Center and the Betty S. Rogers Track and Field Center.
The tower
was relocated last weekend from its original spot just to the west of
the University’s main entrance. The move comes just weeks before our
planned December 1 groundbreaking for the new Susan S. Goode Fine and
Performing Arts Center, which will be constructed on the neighboring
field. The structure was carefully transported on Saturday by Alpine
Tower International, the company that originally produced and installed
the tower.
The Alpine Tower arrived on our campus in 2011 as a
result of our partnership with the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. The YMCA
funded the structure in exchange for use of the land and utilizes it
primarily in the summer for camps and youth activities. The tower is
also used for VWU classes, recreation activities and teambuilding
programs during the academic year and is available for use by outside
groups as well.
The decision to relocate the Alpine Tower was
made by YMCA President/CEO Billy George and me. It was a logical choice
to move the tower to our athletic complex, as it offers a tremendous
variety of physical challenge courses and team-oriented experiences. We
are grateful for the generosity and support of Billy George and the
YMCA. Our organizations share a unique bond that enables us to enrich
the services we provide to Virginia Wesleyan and the greater community.
Special
thanks, also, to Hourigan Construction for facilitating the tower move,
especially to Chris Brandt, Executive Vice President; Clark Lambert,
Senior Project Manager; and Eric Harrison, Superintendent.
