Alumni Gymnasium, or Alumni Gym, was a multipurpose athletic complex on the

Worcester Polytechnic Institute '' , mottoeng = "Theory and Practice" , established = , former_name = Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science (1865-1886) , type = Private research university , endowme ...

(WPI) campus in

Worcester, MA Worcester ( , ) is a city and county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, the city's population was 206,518 at the 2020 census, making it the second-most populous city in New England after Bo ...

. The gym had an indoor track, a basketball court, a swimming pool, a fitness center, a bowling alley, locker rooms, and athletic offices. The gym was closed in 2012 when the Institute opened a new recreation center. In 2016, with the approval of the Worcester Historical Commission, the 100-year-old building was razed to make way for the Foisie Innovation Studio.

History

Following the turn of the century the lack of athletic facilities prohibited students from participating in physical training and athletics. The Institute had little interest in this matter, so at the 1911 Alumni Council meeting, the Class of 1886 started the efforts to raise funds for new facilities. An initial goal of $200,000 ($ in dollars) was set, which would provide funds for the construction of a gymnasium and

field Field may refer to: Expanses of open ground * Field (agriculture), an area of land used for agricultural purposes * Airfield, an aerodrome that lacks the infrastructure of an airport * Battlefield * Lawn, an area of mowed grass * Meadow, a grass ...

, as well as the purchasing of equipment and starting an endowment. In the summer of 1913, this goal was reached and ground was broke on Alumni Stadium. With the stadium's completion in 1914, many were eager to begin work on the gymnasium and later that year Hewitt & Brown, a firm from Minneapolis composed of

Edwin Hawley Hewitt Edwin Hawley Hewitt (March 26, 1874 – August 11, 1939) was an American architect from Minnesota. In 1906, he designed the Edwin H. Hewitt House in the Stevens Square neighborhood of Minneapolis, listed on the National Register of Historic Plac ...

and alumnus Edwin H. Brown '98, was selected as the architect. Central Building Company, whose president was alumnus Bradford A. Gibson '91, was awarded the construction contract in April 1915 and broke ground shortly afterward with the cornerstone being laid in June 1915. On June 6, 1916, the gym was opened following a dedication ceremony which included remarks by then

Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor The lieutenant governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts. The constitutional honorific title for the office is His ...

and future

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a History of the Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer ...

References

{{WPI Engineers men's basketball navbox WPI Engineers basketball Basketball in Worcester, Massachusetts Basketball venues in Massachusetts Sports venues in Worcester, Massachusetts Sports venues completed in 1916 1916 establishments in Massachusetts