VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – A decades old dream is about to become reality for Valley City State University.

More than 250 people were on hand Thursday to celebrate groundbreaking for the Tharaldson Family Athletic Center, showing their enthusiasm for the project and appreciation for the private donors who helped make it possible.

“We truly are transforming our campus,” said VCSU President Alan LaFave. “This groundbreaking event marks that culmination of many years of planning and fundraising, underscoring our university’s dedication to providing first-rate athletic and competition opportunities. This will change how our student-athletes train, develop and compete.”

An expansion to the athletic facility has been envisioned for decades with numerous variations mocked up over the years. About four years ago, that vision became a tangible dream with the official kickoff of the Forward Together Capital Campaign. On Thursday, that dream became a reality as the first shovels of dirt were removed from the ground to start the construction process.

“This moment has been decades in the making,” said Cory Anderson, executive director for university advancement. “It was a dream of Mr. Bill Osmon from way back when, and to see it finally come to fruition is something I think a lot of us still pinch ourselves about. This is more than about turf and walls. It’s about legacy. It’s about Viking Pride. And it’s a win for every Viking past, present and future.”

The primary building will be 69,000 square feet and house a multi-purpose indoor turf practice facility, a new weight room and training room, and several new locker rooms and team rooms. A total of 55,000 square feet is for the turfed practice area, while the remaining 14,000 feet houses the other features. The building also includes a mezzanine level with an additional 14,000 square feet.

The primary building is a custom tension fabric building from Legacy Building Solutions. ICON Architectural Group is the project architect. The new building measures 230 feet by 300 feet and is 73 feet high at the tallest point. It will be large enough to play fastpitch softball and will also include 60-meter sprinting lanes.

Additionally, a mechanical room and garages currently attached to the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse will be remodeled and connected to the new building, allowing pass-through access from the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse into the Tharaldson Family Athletic Center.

The primary phase of construction is estimated to cost about $11 million. The secondary phase, which includes finishing out some of the interior rooms, comes with an estimated price tag of about $2 million. The project is being funded primarily by private donations, which includes the lead donation of $5 million by the Gary Tharaldson family. Tharaldson is a 1967 graduate of Valley City State and was on hand for Thursday’s groundbreaking.

Speakers at Thursday’s event included Cory Anderson, Executive Director for University Advancement; Alan LaFave, President of VCSU; Larry Robinson, chair of the Forward Together Capital Campaign; Gary Tharaldson, lead donor; and Dennis McCulloch, VCSU athletic director and head football coach.

McCulloch highlighted the opportunity the facility provides for student-athletes to compete and grow year-round, along with the “wow factor” that the new building will provide in recruiting talented student-athletes.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” said McCulloch. “Great facilities will attract kids here, they will come and look. But it will still be the great people we have on campus that will get them to sign and be here. We have a great community and great people, and we truly appreciate this opportunity.”

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