UVa-Wise Plans To Build Large Event Center

BY TIMOTHY CAMA
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

WISE, Va. – The coalfield region will see a boost to its economy with construction of a $30 million convocation and recreation center at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, college and local officials announced Thursday.

With seating for as many as 4,000 people, the center will serve both the college and the surrounding community by hosting sporting events, concerts, meetings, conventions and other events.
“The community event side is going to be very important,” Chancellor David Prior said during a news conference at the school.

Currently, those handling large events in the coalfield region must use one of the community colleges or another small venues because nothing is available near the size of UVa-Wise’s planned building exists.

“It will be a great addition to the college, to Wise County and to the greater area,” said Jonathan Belcher, executive director of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority.

The center is expected to open in 2011. Center events will boost the economy of the region through tourism, lodging, entertainment and other industries, Belcher said.

Leasing the facility for events will be a source of revenue for the college, but will not be a “profit-maker,” said Prior. The rental money will offset the costs of maintaining and operating the building.

Prior’s inspiration for the center came from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he previously worked. He said he helped that university build a center like the one planned in Wise.

Prior began discussing the possibility of the structure at UVa-Wise shortly after he began working at the school four years ago. But he soon learned that state Del. Terry Kilgore, a UVa-Wise alumnus, already had the idea.

“Terry had been talking about it for 10 years,” said Prior.

Kilgore, a Republican from Gate City, helped secure state money for the project, Prior said. The money is part of a bill signed by Gov. Tim Kaine in May that authorized $1.5 billion in bond financing for state college construction projects over the next two years, according to a college news release.

Preliminary site work started three or four weeks ago for the facility, which will total 80,000-100,000 square feet.

A request for architectural bids went out recently, said Travis Perry, capital projects manager.

The building also will fulfill UVa-Wise’s need for a sports facility.

“The building will host games for our varsity men’s basketball, varsity women’s basketball and varsity women’s volleyball,” Prior said. Seating for sports events will be limited to 3,000.

The facility also will feature locker rooms, offices, concessions and ticketing areas, and meeting and study space, Prior added.

All gym sports at UVa-Wise currently use the Greer Gym, a facility that only has one basketball court, he said.

“This winter, we had basketball teams practicing at 1 or 2 a.m.,” he said.

Organizations outside the college might also use the building for sporting events, Prior added. For example, the college will invite local high school basketball teams to hold tournaments there.

Once the convocation center opens, Greer will be renovated into a facility for recreational and intramural use.

In planning the building, the college is going to try to attain platinum-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, Prior said. LEED concerns building aspects such as energy and water efficiency, sustainable development and indoor environmental quality. The center will be the first in the region to achieve such certification, Prior added.

The project will be the largest capital project in the college’s history. Before Thursday’s announcement, the $14 million arts center, which is still under construction, held that distinction.

UVa-Wise is in the midst of six capital projects, both renovations and construction.

TIMOTHY CAMA is an intern with the Herald Courier and can be reached at or (276) 669-2181.