KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

Fantastic, thank you Barber family. Does that meet the goal??

Let’s get the bid documents out the door! This is critical to our growth as a program.

Fantastic news! Thank you to the Barber's. Are there any artist renderings of what it is proposed to look like?

Hooray! Thanks for generous donation!!

Very generous of the Barber’s!!!!!! The facility may actually get built now!!!!! Fantastic!!

Get the project started now

.......funding near complete?......artist renderings.....bids.......ground breaking.......construction.....what about naming the facility......?

There has to be conceptual drawings, assuming there was a master plan phase of some sort to figure our pricing, dimensions ect. Might have to sneak into Thorrs office to get them though until the University feels confident that this project is happening.

Where is all this coming from!?!

52% for women's BB facility and 48% for men's? Will URI take other money earmarked for men's BB and re-allocate it to other programs (AKA the shell game URI plays with donations)? Inquiring minds want to know.

Rhody72 wrote: ↑3 years ago 52% for women's BB facility and 48% for men's? Will URI take other money earmarked for men's BB and re-allocate it to other programs (AKA the shell game URI plays with donations)? Inquiring minds want to know.

I guarantee that if that is indeed the financial split of the $1M gift, it was entirely up to the donor rather than a "shell game" that the athletic department was playing. Given that the donor is a member of the Women's Council for Development, it wouldn't be surprising that she would ear-mark some funds specifically for the WBB team (which I am certain desperately needs them).

Gotdam you sure know how to rain on literally any parade you can find.

The practice facility is for both the MBB & WBB teams. I believe she wanted to give credit to the women’s program.
They are very close to the $5 million. I believe with verbal commitments they have hit the $5 million.
Once those commitments come in formerly, they will announce it.
The plan is to start the project in Aug/Sept.
They can’t put a shovel in the ground until they have received all of the funds. That is a state of RI requirement for privately funded projects at State schools.

maybe the state can cover the difference?

Brian Forster wrote: ↑3 years ago maybe the state can cover the difference?

Geraldine and Greg have always been excellent donors and advocates to the university. Greg's also helped out the Men's Golf Team as an assistant. Really great people and we all are thankful for their wonderful gift.

theblueram wrote: ↑3 years ago

Brian Forster wrote: ↑3 years ago maybe the state can cover the difference?

Brian, I sure hope this is sarcasm.... because if not then you don't know how this all works.

Taylor Swift wrote: ↑3 years ago Geraldine and Greg have always been excellent donors and advocates to the university. Greg's also helped out the Men's Golf Team as an assistant. Really great people and we all are thankful for their wonderful gift.

It really is a fantastic donation. Really. We need this facility to be state of the art and blow recruits away. Gifts by them and the Clapper’s are amazing. Love those RAMS

Our first opponent of the season is Stephen F. Austin on November 25 and I thought I'd look at what kind of BB facilities they have and this is what I found. It looks like SFA is building a new practice facility.

https://www.ktre.com/2019/07/22/sfa-bre ... -facility/

Obadiah wrote: ↑3 years ago Our first opponent of the season is Stephen F. Austin on November 25 and I thought I'd look at what kind of BB facilities they have and this is what I found. It looks like SFA is building a new practice facility.

https://www.ktre.com/2019/07/22/sfa-bre ... -facility/

Lots of money in Texas.

sf2010 wrote: ↑3 years ago

Rhody72 wrote: ↑3 years ago 52% for women's BB facility and 48% for men's? Will URI take other money earmarked for men's BB and re-allocate it to other programs (AKA the shell game URI plays with donations)? Inquiring minds want to know.

I guarantee that if that is indeed the financial split of the $1M gift, it was entirely up to the donor rather than a "shell game" that the athletic department was playing. Given that the donor is a member of the Women's Council for Development, it wouldn't be surprising that she would ear-mark some funds specifically for the WBB team (which I am certain desperately needs them).

Gotdam you sure know how to rain on literally any parade you can find.

I was wondering how R72 would negatively spin this good news. I swear he’d piss on his kid’s birthday cake.

That’s football money for SFA.

Rhody74 wrote: ↑3 years ago

sf2010 wrote: ↑3 years ago

Rhody72 wrote: ↑3 years ago 52% for women's BB facility and 48% for men's? Will URI take other money earmarked for men's BB and re-allocate it to other programs (AKA the shell game URI plays with donations)? Inquiring minds want to know.

I guarantee that if that is indeed the financial split of the $1M gift, it was entirely up to the donor rather than a "shell game" that the athletic department was playing. Given that the donor is a member of the Women's Council for Development, it wouldn't be surprising that she would ear-mark some funds specifically for the WBB team (which I am certain desperately needs them).

Gotdam you sure know how to rain on literally any parade you can find.

I was wondering how R72 would negatively spin this good news. I swear he’d piss on his kid’s birthday cake.

Dude is the Skip Bayless of this board

Wow very generous gifts great news !!

I read in The Independent that the goal is $8 million and they are half way there.

This article includes the first rendering I've seen so far for the project

https://www.independentri.com/news/arti ... f81cc.html

Sounds like they expanded the project to include surrounding facilities.. The $4 mil is probably for the gym alone. Interested to know what exactly they are improving.

I believe including other commitments they are at or just over $5 million. Thorr is only including the formal commitments received when he says $4 million raised. The initial project was $5-5.2 million. Sounds like they are expanding on that. The expectation is to start construction in Sept ‘21. Not sure if there are two phases to the project (initial $5 million renovation and additional $3 million project).

The University of Rhode Island has announced two separate donations of $1 million each for planned renovations to the West Gymnasium in the Tootell Athletic Complex. A rendering shows what the project will look like when completed.
Photo Courtesy: Tecton Architects/The University of Rhode Island

Photo provided by Tecton Architects


Two Decades of On-Call Services
University of Rhode Island - Kingston, RI

Tecton has provided on-call services to the University of Rhode Island for more than 20 years. Over this span, we have completed a number of diverse projects, including master planning, facilities evaluations and feasibility studies, adaptive reuse of historic structures and building design. Our local Rhode Island office provides to day-to-day project support, backed by the full resources of the firm.

SELECTED PROJECTS
Engineering Complex Expansion
Kirk Building Engine Testing Lab
Freshman Village Additions and Renovations
Little Four Residence Halls Additions and Renovations
Roger Williams Complex Fire Protection Upgrade
Roger Williams Complex Feasibility Study
Roger Williams Complex Renovations 2012-2015
Multiple Residence Hall Flooring Renovations
Multiple Residence Hall Door & Lock Renovations
Garrahy and Wiley Hall Kitchen Renovations
Fayerweather and Gorham Hall Plumbing Renovations
Department of Housing and Residential Life – 5-Year Asset Protection Plan

http://www.tectonarchitects.com/univers ... sland.html

I have a hard time understanding why this project costs so much. What in the rendering looks expensive? I guess a $1M isn't what it use to be. Certainly, whatever it is, the longer they wait the more it will cost. It sounds that men's BB is being used to sell a multi-purpose project.

Rhody72 wrote: ↑3 years ago I have a hard time understanding why this project costs so much. What in the rendering looks expensive? I guess a $1M isn't what it use to be. Certainly, whatever it is, the longer they wait the more it will cost. It sounds that men's BB is being used to sell a multi-purpose project.

Who cares

I thought the same about the price after seeing the rendering. Looks like new floor and wall graphics with new hoops? Probably more included if it’s millions they’re spending.

Wish there was more details and renderings on the project.

Rhodymob05 wrote: ↑3 years ago I thought the same about the price after seeing the rendering. Looks like new floor and wall graphics with new hoops? Probably more included if it’s millions they’re spending.

.......maybe meeting rooms, video/music theater, study/tutorial rooms, dedicated fitness/weight training areas, media press conference room, nutrition/performance dietician lab, hair salon, tat design room, bowling lanes, corn hole courts, ........ did I miss anything?

I'm sure it's more than just the court itself. Infrastructure, like hvac, ventilation will probably need upgrading (this is an assumption). But as 105 mentioned, offices, meeting rooms, maybe places for study? If it's supposed to be a facility dedicated to the basketball program, it would need all that stuff and more.

steviep123 wrote: ↑3 years ago I'm sure it's more than just the court itself. Infrastructure, like hvac, ventilation will probably need upgrading (this is an assumption). But as 105 mentioned, offices, meeting rooms, maybe places for study? If it's supposed to be a facility dedicated to the basketball program, it would need all that stuff and more.

If anyone has been in Tootell in the last 20 years, it has needed vast amounts of restoration and upgrading for quite some time. I'm sure much of the cost is also going to demolition/renovation of existing infrastructure in the surrounding buildings.

The price is mostly due to what you DON'T see is my guess. Playing intramural bball in Tootell in the late 90s, the HVAC left a bit to be desired that's for sure. On an unseasonably warm day it would stay quite "stank" in there. The lighting looks very well appointed, and it will be high-end touches like that which will drive up the price but give the facilities a WOW factor when recruits come to visit.

You get what you pay for.

I'd like state of the art, but since it is URI (and I have yet to hit the lottery to be able to make my big donation) I'm sure we will get middle of the road.

I thought the old Tootell West gym was renovated during the Baron era? Particularly the floor after a spate of ankle sprains. I still remember playing racquetball in the basement. I think the pools added to the high humidity in the building.

What’s the latest?

Another donation! This might be it!

https://gorhody.com/news/2021/3/9/mens- ... ility.aspx

Hopefully he asked for a new coach when handing over the check.

Rhodymob05 wrote: ↑3 years ago Another donation! This might be it!

https://gorhody.com/news/2021/3/9/mens- ... ility.aspx

Still sounds like it's the plan to renovate Tootell West. Fantastic that we're doing something which is significantly better than the nothing we've been doing.

Big thank you to Stefan.

Hopefully this gets the plan moving forward.

Rhody83 wrote: ↑3 years ago I believe including other commitments they are at or just over $5 million. Thorr is only including the formal commitments received when he says $4 million raised. The initial project was $5-5.2 million. Sounds like they are expanding on that. The expectation is to start construction in Sept ‘21. Not sure if there are two phases to the project (initial $5 million renovation and additional $3 million project).

So now with today's added $3 million donation we either have met our fundraising goal or are damned close. No construction information in the announcement, hopefully they can get started earlier than September now

I had to look this guy up... He dropped out of URI - has 16 children (11 with an ex-wife and 5 with "multiple women") - 33rd largest land owner in the United States - worth $4.7B. Now THAT is a bio!

Great news! So generous.

BlackDogRants wrote: ↑3 years ago I had to look this guy up... He dropped out of URI - has 16 children (11 with an ex-wife and 5 with "multiple women") - 33rd largest land owner in the United States - worth $4.7B. Now THAT is a bio!

Wow so this dude's dad just died and left him and his brother $4.4B!? And that ignores the land he owned on his own??

I cannot fathom spending $3M on anything and not having it affect your life at all.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features ... landowners