Gordon Field House Namesake Participates in Ceremonial Brick Laying, Oct. 27

Construction on $25 million RIT facility to be completed in spring

Monroe County’s second largest indoor venue is quickly taking shape. Progress in constructing the $25 million, 155,000 square-foot Gordon Field House and Activities Center will be commemorated during an informal ceremony at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Lucius R. “Bob” Gordon, for whom the field house is named, will join RIT President Albert Simone on a tour of the developing facility. The pair will lay a few of the exterior bricks in place at 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27.

With a seating capacity of more than 8,000 people, only the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester will be a larger indoor venue locally. RIT’s field house will accommodate large-scale campus events, such as graduation, as well as indoor sports year-round. Other features will include:

• An aquatic center with a 25-meter competition pool accompanied by spectator seating for about 200, a recreational pool and a spa area
• A 17,000-square foot fitness center with areas for weight training and cardiovascular equipment
• A spacious lobby and mezzanine level with viewing of the arena

  Completing construction of the Gordon Field House and Activities Center will require approximately 130,000 bricks, 1,500 tons of steel and 20 miles of wiring.

  Naming the facility to honor Lucius Gordon was announced at last year’s groundbreaking. Gordon is an RIT trustee and has been a supporter and champion of the university’s mission for more than 60 years. He is also a key contributor to the field house though gifts and commitments totaling $5 million.

  MEDIA NOTE: To cover the Gordon Field House ceremony, media may park in Lot D and gather at the northwest corner of the construction site. For more information, contact Bob Finnerty, RIT chief communications officer, at 475-4733 or refuns@rit.edu.