University of Virginia’s College at Wise proposes to construct a new 72,000 square foot
multipurpose center within the sports complex area of the campus. The Center will
seat approximately 3,000 people and will be used to hold a variety of events including practice
and matches for the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the women’s volleyball teams.
Graduation will also be held in the Center in the event of inclement weather. The Center will
also benefit the community by bringing other shows and concerts to the area.

The new multipurpose center will be designed for flexibility allowing simultaneous multiple uses
as needed. Approximately two-thirds of the center will be occupied by the main seating bowl. The
remainder of the building will house a lobby, concession areas, offices, athletic trainers, practice
courts, and a catering kitchen. The project will be designed and built to obtain LEED
certification.

A plaza is planned in the front of the building to be used as a gathering space. A terrace
overlooking the pond to the north is planned on the back side of the building. A short service
road will lead to the loading dock on the northwest side of the building.

The multipurpose center is needed for the UVA College at Wise to house the men’s and
women’s basketball teams as well as the women’s volleyball teams. Currently all three of these
teams play in Greear gym, a small gymnasium. Greear gymnasium, constructed in 1961, can
only hold one team at a time, resulting in back to back practice times late into the evening.
Often the gym is used to hold special dinners and receptions, which forces the athletic teams to
drive to area high schools to practice.

The site is currently a paved parking lot across from the existing football stadium. The project
site is surrounded to the east by a grass field used for parking for the football stadium, to the
south by the football stadium, to the west by a wooded area and a stormwater detention basin,
and to the north by a wooded area and a pond.