New gym replaces old eyesore
(Continued from page 1)
The gymnastism's only benefit was its central location.
Fortunately for KU, this central location was more than a site. It was a launch pad.
At the time, a new gymnasium was not temporarily or chronologically the greatest building need of the university, says Keith Lawton, vice chancellor of operations.
The 1662 master plan—a concept of long range, periodical and flexible building planning—called for the construction of a new humanities building within the next ten years.
Aware that KU enrollment was increasing and that classrooms would be needed for an expanded undergraduate program, university officials suggested obsolete Robinson Gymnasium and Haworth Hall eventually be razed to provide for the proposed humanities building.
Parking problems also resulted. People going to the gymnasium and students attending night classes could not find parking spaces near these buildings.
"THIS PARKING problem presented a conflict between recreation and night academic studies," Lawton says. "A centrally located site was ideal for the new humanities building. The gymnasium couldn't be in a worse location.
The legislature was now convinced that KU needed a new physical education building. After university officials submitted their 1962 annual priority building list, the Board of Regents, in turn, indicated it could appropriate approximately $1 million if the university would start with that amount. The university agreed. In 1964 KU received the $1 million appropriation.
There was a definite need for swimming facilities. Consideration was given for a natatorium. After months of talking, university officials returned to the legislature in 1965. As a result, another $450,000 was appropriated for the natatorium construction.
With the approval from the legislature, James C. Canole, state architect, and Dwight Brown and Associates, associate architects, were commissioned to "design a gymnasium building for the fulture and then to break the plan down to the portion that could be built at this time." A unit approach was recommended to build the total complex in two phases.
"The architect did a superior job in fulfilling this commission," Lawton savs.
The gymnasium cost $940,882 and occupies approximately 65,-000 square feet. Covering about 22,750 square feet, the natatorium cost $424,000. The total cost of the project is $1,449,840.
cluding fencing, soccer and cricket; and the women's organization of Tau Sigma (dance) and Quack Club (swimming).
THE TWO-STORY structure of connected rectangles serves such groups as men and women majoring in professional physical education and recreation; physical education activity classes for all KU students; men's and women's intramurals; varsity gymnastics and swimming; sports clubs in-
After changing several swimming pool filters, construction of the physical education building presented no serious problems.
The entrance to the building is the north ramp on Sunnyside Avenue. There are three offices and three classrooms, each air-conditioned and isolated from gymnasium noise, on the first floor. The building totals five
AFTER COMPLETING the final preliminary plans for the first two phases, the architect proceeded to draw phase one. Bids finally opened and contracts let to the general, electrical and mechanical contractors.
classrooms, one large lecture room and 18 offices.
TWO LARGE gymnasia, which measure 93 by 108 feet, have hard maple floors with "floating" construction so each gym can be divided into two basketball courts, three volleyball courts and eight badminton courts. Electric motors raise or lower each basketball goal.
enrollment in both physical education majors and activity cases.
In the three locker rooms—one each for men, women and faculty members—mechanically ventilated lockers dry clothes and eliminate odors. Dressing room showers have five heads on each shower post.
Other gymnastium facilities include three four-wall indoor handball courts with two spectator galleries, wrestling room, gymnastics room, dance room, weight training room, and general exercise room.
Although KU does not require physical education, Shenk says the new building has increased
"We are hoping to have the second phase built onto the west side of the gymnasium before 1975."
"The building is logistically sound as to location in the master plan and functionally competent." Lawton says. "It is off the main campus and is within easy walking distance of the central campus area.
There are presently 175 men and 97 women majoring in physical education.
Shenk says 15 per cent of the See KU FINALLY, page 3
2
Daily Kansan Friday, October 14, 1866
BACK TO BACK, BELLY TO BELLY, AND . . .
Please don't zlupf Sprite. It makes plenty of noise all by itself.
Sprite, you recall, is the soft drink that's so tart and tingling, we just couldn't keep it quiet.
An almost excessively livelv drink.
Flip its lid and it really flips. Bubbling, fizzing, gurgling, hissing and carrying on all over the place.
Hence, to zlupf is to err.
What is zlupfing?
PRITE IS A REGISTERED TRADE MARK
SPRITE. SO TART AND
TINGLING. WE JUST COULDN'T
KEEP IT QUIET.
It's completely uncalled for. Frowned upon in polite society. And not appreciated on campus either.
Zzzzzl11upf!
But. If zlupfing Sprite is absolutely essential to your enjoyment; if a good healthy zlupf is your idea of heaven, well...all right.
But have a heart. With a drink as noisy as Sprite, a little zlupf goes a long, long way.
It's the staccato buzz you make when draining the last few deliciously tangy drops of Sprite from the bottle with a straw.
Zlupfing is to drinking what smacking one's lips is to eating.