
Warner Palaestra
Warner Palaestra, 1974 (click thumbnails for larger images)
Architect: THH; Ellerbe Becket
Contractor:
Dates: 1973, 1997
The construction of the Warner Palaestra was completed in the fall 1973. The building was created in response to a growing demand from students, faculty, and coaches to create a recreation center at SJU. The facility took 2.6 million dollars and a year to complete. The Warner Palaestra was named in part for the Lee and Rose Warner Foundation which awarded SJU $300,000. The space was dedicated on September 15 th, 1973.
There were three phases of the initial construction. The first called for an arena that would be large enough for four basketball courts, a one-tenth mile indoor track, a baseball diamond and more. This arena was needed the space in the Rat Hall (Guild Hall) which had become too small. The second phase included a wrestling room, a physical fitness room, two classrooms, nine offices, and locker rooms. The final phase, which was started in the fall of 1972, was an eight-lane Olympic size pool with a three-meter spring board and a five-meter diving platform.
In 1982, a new weight room was created that was larger in size and had more equipment.
In 1997, the McNeely Spectrum was added to the east side of the Palaestra and the floors in the main arena were replaced with wood.
In 1999, a group of students presented the idea of adding a climbing wall to the Palaestra. In January of 2000, the two middle racquetball courts were removed, and an 80-foot rock wall was installed.
Bibliography
- Cunningham, Jim. “A Phy-Ed Dream to Rise After 67 Years,” The Record, November 18, 1968, p. 1.
- [In a “spoof” issue: “Idealism Pays Off,” p. 1, and “Student Manifesto Issued!” The Record, p. 2, April 28, 1970.]
- Gonda, Marty. “New Gym’s Happy Fate – 3 Phases Set by Rat Castle Faces Phase Out,” The Record, December 1, 1972, p. 2.
- Evans, Pat. “Details of New Gym Explained,” The Record, February 12, 1971, p.1, 4.
- Bedor, Ernie. “Gymsmiths Hard at Work – Completion Set Next Fall,” The Record, September 15, 1972, p.1.
- “Swimming Pool Set By Next Summer,” The Record, November 3, 1972, p.2.
- Hirigoyen, Pat. “Lost in the Warehouse,” The Record, September 28, 1973. p.1.
- “Warner Foundation Awards $300,000 for Gym,” Banner, Winter 1973, p. 1.
- Meyer, Carl. “Palaestra plans underway,” The Record Oct. 10, 1996, p. 3.
- McBroom, John. “Palaestra construction and renovations in full swing,” The Record, May 1, 1997, p.19.
- Hinderlie, Nels. “Pine curtain and Palaestra undergo renovation,” The Record, September 4, 1997, p.11.
- “SJU names basketball court in honor of winningest coach in Minnesota collegiate history,” CSB/SJU Community Newsroom, June 4, 2008.
- Peterson, Landon. “New capital improvements make their debut,” The Record, 14 September 2023, p.1
See Also:
- “Regents, Board give green light to phase III of phy-ed complex,” Saint John’s Magazine v.12 n.02, Autumn 1972, p.19.
- Arden, John “Recordings,” The Record, March 02, 1973, p.3.
- “Phases one and two of gym underway; completion planned for fall of 1973,” Saint John’s Magazine v.11 n.04, Spring 1972, p.6.
- “Kresge, Ober Foundations award challenge grants totaling $250,000,”Saint John’s Magazine v.12 n.04, Spring 1973, p. 13.
- “Warner Palaestra dedication set for September 15,” Saint John’s Magazine v.13 n.01, Summer 1973, p.13.
- [Cover photograph of Warner Palaestra dedication], Saint John’s Magazine, vol. 13, no. 2, Fall 1973.
- Lafeber, Kevin. “Hey You Wimps!” The Record, November 5, 1982, p. 7.
- Paur, Roman OSB. “Athletic Facilities Improvements,” Community, November 11, 1982, p. 1/5.
- Ziller, Bob. “Wet Courts Reach New Heights,” The Record, November 15, 1984, p. 3.
- Falk, Lori. “Future Plans to Upgrade Palaestra Studied,”The Record, February 26, 1987, p. 5.
- Perry, Steve. “Progress reported in art center, Engel planning,” The Record, March 16, 1989, p. 1, 5.
- McKinney, Matt. “Weight Room Extension Planned,” The Record, October 25. 1990, p. 3.
- Bisanz, Chris. “Palaestra Floor Dangerous, Needs Replacement,” The Record, November 7, 1991, p. 1.
- Meyer, Carol. “Palaestra Plans Underway,” The Record, October 10, 1996, p. 3.
- “Renewal of Saint John’s athletic facilities: Simple Problems: Simple Solutions,” Saint John’s Magazine v.35 n.04, Autumn 1996, p.10.
- “Construction Begins in Palaestra,” The Record, April 17, 1997, p. 20.
- “SJU athletic facilities to be improved,” Saint John’s Magazine, Spring 1997, p. 23.
- Beinert, Mike and Amber Nelson. “Athletic Complex, Despite Cost, Fair to All Involved,” The Record, September 25, 1997, p. 11.
- “Dedication Ceremony Planned,” The Record, October 23, 1997, p. 20.
- “Athletics Facilities Update,” Saint John’s Magazine v.36 n.04, Fall 1997, p.16.
- “Athletic facilities,” Saint John’s Magazine, Winter 1997, p. 17.
- Hoefer, Shane. “Climbing Wall to be Fixture at Palaestra,” The Record, April 22, 1999, p. 3.
- Kupcinski, John. “Rock Climbing Wall to Become Reality During J-Term,” The Record, December 2, 1999, p. 4.
Text drafted by Maria Schrupp, CSB ’20