ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - The groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation and expansion of the Stevenson Gymnasium was held in the midst of a snowstorm on Saturday.

Bard College President Leon Botstein, Vice President for Admistration Jim Brudvig, Assistant Vice President for Administration Coleen Murphy Alexander, Athletic Director Kris Hall, and Bard student-athlete Nick Chan, the vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, participated in the ceremony.

Botstein spoke about Bard's new commitment to athletics and wellness, and about the balance between athletics and academics that Div. III offers. Hall thanked the donors and expressed gratitude to Brudvig and Murphy Alexander for pursuing the funding for continued growth in Bard athletics.

The total budget for the project is $2.1 million. Current chair of the Board College Board of Trustees, Charles Stevenson Jr., and two anonymous donors made the gift.

The project will be done in two phases. The first phase, which will begin in November, will include the addition of four international squash courts with a mezzanine viewing area, a conference room, new athletic department offices, and a new entrance and lobby area.

The second phase, which will begin at the completion of the first phase, will include the removal of the current squash courts, which will be replaced with expanded cardiovascular and weight equipment. Instructional classrooms for yoga, aerobics, pilates and spin cycling will be renovated and added, the improvements will be made to the women's shower area in the women's locker room.