Sports and Recreation Complex

In August of 2000, the Wheaton Athletics Department moved into the state-of-the-art Sport and Recreation Complex (SRC). The $15 million SRC was the centerpiece and the only "brick-and-mortar" component of the college's New Century Challenge fund-raising campaign. It was built with the promise to help balance Wheaton's demanding academic culture with an increased commitment to community-building, athletics, and recreation. The SRC features an 8,000-square-foot weight room, three student recreational gyms, an elevated jogging track, a climbing wall, "smart" classrooms, conference rooms, and a physiology lab. The Great Hall entrance includes vaulted ceilings. Included in the SRC are the Eckert Recreation Center, the previously existing Chrouser Fitness Center, and the King Arena. King Arena replaced Centennial Gymnasium as the home of Wheaton College basketball, volleyball, and wrestling. The arena is not a different building but a renovation of Centennial Gymnasium, which was originally built in 1960. The renovation of the arena was funded in large part by Leroy King. The 2,650-seat King Arena is equipped with four scoreboards, a sound system, and a different floor. The renovation also included phone and ethernet connections at the scorer's table. King Arena now has seating on all four sides whereas Centennial Gymnasium only had two sides with seating, and one of the sides features chair-backed seats. The orientation of the floor in King Arena now runs east-to-west, while Centennial Gym was north-to-south.