The Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex continues to receive accolades. In addition to the highly positive reaction from the general public, the building has now won an award from the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).
On March 16, DBIA named Opus as the regional winner of the DBIA Best Project – Private Sector Building Over $25 Million. This award represents the regional project that has best achieved success in attaining the owner’s (UST) project goals and success in implementing design-build best practices.
The Design-Build Institute of America has named Opus as the regional winner of the DBIA Best Project – Private Sector Building Over $25 Million. Beth Duyvejonck, Opus AARC project manager, and Jim Brummer, St. Thomas' construction manager and assistant physical plant director, accepted the award on behalf of Opus and St. Thomas.
Beth Duyvejonck, Opus AARC project manager, and Jim Brummer, UST construction manager and assistant physical plant director, accepted the award on behalf of Opus and St. Thomas.
“The design of this building has been brilliant, both in terms of how students flow through it and in terms of its ability to generate energy and excitement once in the building. Gone are the days of isolated venues behind closed doors, where students had to enter the space not knowing what was going on. Now with glass corridors, walls and internal windows, all the venues are viewable from a variety of places as students move through the building," remarked Mark Vangsgard, vice president for business affairs and CFO, who served as chair of the construction committee. "Students have the ability to see and then decide how they want to engage with the activities in those venues without having to go through a closed door. The energy, engagement, excitement and social networking of this building have surpassed our hopes. Opus and their design-build team did an outstanding job."
The AARC was built with the help of a $60 million gift to the Opening Doors campaign from St. Thomas trustee Lee Anderson and his wife, Penny. The building is named in their honor.
