Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Breaks Ground on $2.5 Million Athletics Facility Project

ALBANY, NY--(Marketwire - Jun 4, 2012) - Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has begun a two-year series of renovations and additions to its athletics and recreation facility that will include a new soccer field and running track. The project, which will take part in two phases, will cost an estimated $2.5 million.

Phase I of the project includes implementation of a state of the art synthetic turf field (replacing the existing grass field) and a rubberized six-lane running track. At 75 yards in width by 120 yards in length, the new field will be more than 20% larger than the existing field, and will meet existing NCAA soccer guidelines for field dimensions. Both the new track and field will be ready for use in fall 2012.

Phase II will add lights, a new scoreboard, long-jump pit, bleachers, press box, entrance, and signage. The second phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2013.

Shaker Flats Landscaping, Inc. of West Lebanon, N.Y., has been contracted for the project.

"It's an exciting time to be a student at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences," said James Gozzo, Ph.D., President of ACPHS. "This much anticipated renovation will be a tremendous asset to our student athletes and coaches for both practice and games. It will also benefit the rest of the campus and the neighboring community by giving the College the ability to host a wider range of athletic and social events."

Funding for the project is being raised through the College's $50 million Moving Forward Capital Campaign that was launched in November 2011. As part of the fundraising efforts for the facility, Geno Germano, ACPHS Class of 1983 and member of the College's Board of Trustees, and his wife Theresa, Class of 1986, are challenging 100 alumni to purchase a seat at the new facility for $1,000 each. They will in turn commit to donate $150,000 to the project, for a total of $250,000 toward the renovations.

ACPHS is a member of the Hudson Valley Athletic Conference and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The College fields men's and women's teams in soccer, basketball, and cross country.

To learn more about the project and hear comments from student athletes and coaches, please watch the athletics field video at http://youtu.be/uArsuOfO_TE.

About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution committed to graduating the best health care minds in the world. In addition to its doctor of pharmacy program, ACPHS offers four bachelor's programs and five graduate programs in the health sciences. The College's main campus is located in Albany, New York; its satellite campus is in Colchester, Vermont. For more information, please visit www.acphs.edu.