VTC Opens
SHAPE Center
To Public

Business students Sara Richardson and alysha Roberts use the treadmills at Vermont Technical College's renovated SHAPE facilities. The 3500-square-foot fitness center, aloong with a new student lounge and dining area opens Saturday with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. The public will be welcome at the fitness center, college officials stress. (Herald / Tim Calabro)

Vermont Technical College’s new Campus Center opened to students, faculty and staff this week, completing a year-long planning, construction, and fundraising effort. The Campus Center includes a student lounge and dining area and a 3500-square-foot fitness center.

The official grand opening and ribbon-cutting will take place this Saturday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. during the college’s annual fall open house and alumni day.

Members of the public are invited to attend the ceremony and tour the center throughout the day on Saturday.

"The culmination of the Campus Center project represents many years of work by students, staff, and alumni," noted Jack Daniels, the college’s dean of administration. "But the real heroes are all of those students who kept this issue on the table during those years, identifying the need for a campus center as critical. In the end, these are the people who made this project possible."

On hand to celebrate the occasion and offer their comments will be Gov. Jim Douglas, who will also perform the official ribbon-cutting duties; Gary Moore, chairman the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees; VSC Chancellor Robert Clarke; Justin Marsha, this year’s student representative to the VSC Board; and VTC President Ty Handy.

Designed by Banwell Architects of Lebanon and Montpelier, both the fitness center and dining facilities, including an outdoor patio, take advantage of sweeping views of mountains, fields, and the nearby Vermont Veteran’s Cemetery.

"The VTC Campus Center was a complete joy to be able to work on," said architect Ingrid Moulton. The building, she said, "utilizes both space and natural daylight to create an overall sense of well-being."

"Our hope now," said President Handy, "is that members of the Central Vermont community will take advantage of all the center has to offer, whether it’s joining SHAPE in order to use the pool, racquetball courts, and all of the new fitness equipment; using the lounge and dining area for meetings and events; or simply ordering lunch and enjoying the view."

The SHAPE facilities supervisor will be former Randolph Union High School teacher and coach Alan Stewart. "Everything we have up here is meant to be used and enjoyed by the entire community," he declared.