Northwestern to break ground on lakefront athletic complex Nov. 13

Northwestern will officially break ground on its new lakefront athletics facility with a ceremony Nov. 13, the University announced Friday.

The complex will include both the Ryan Fieldhouse and the Walter Athletics Center.

According to Northwestern's press release, the Ryan Fieldhouse will contain the following:

• A full-size indoor practice field for multiple sports (Wilson Field)
• Workout areas for Olympic sports teams
• Space to house campus events including convocations and Dance Marathon
• Sports medicine resources
• Locker rooms for a variety of varsity sports

The Walter Athletics Center is also geared mostly toward housing athletic activities. It will:

• Be the new home of Northwestern football, which will include the coaches' offices, team meeting and locker rooms
• House numerous coaches' offices from other sports
• Contain a nutrition and dining center
• Include academic and professional development offices.

The school also plans to update the Norris Aquatics Center, the home of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams, with new training areas, locker rooms, offices and meeting spaces. The project will also replace the three recreational basketball courts and a running track inside Henry Crown Sports Pavilion (also known as SPAC).

This summer, Northwestern started construction on a new practice field for the football program and began to renovate the soccer, lacrosse and field hockey fields.

Funding for these projects, the University said, came from various alumni donations.

Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips will hold a press conference Saturday at 9:30 a.m. CT to discuss the new facility.