Click here to visit the Duquesne Athletics Facility Renovation website

PITTSBURGH - Duquesne University announced today plans for a comprehensive renovation of the A.J. Palumbo Center.
 
Set to break ground in March, the modernized and re-imagined facility will be named UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in honor of men's basketball legend and NBA trailblazer Chuck Cooper, who captained Duquesne University's men's basketball team before going on to become the first African-American to be drafted into the NBA in 1950.

"To see my father's alma mater name this premiere athletic facility in recognition of his legacy is an incredible honor," said Chuck Cooper III, president of the Chuck Cooper Foundation. "Our partnership with Duquesne stems all the way back to my father's time when he played for the Dukes in 1947. At a time when barriers were still left to be broken, my father's team and the athletic department of Duquesne University showed overwhelming support, teamwork, and leadership in progressing the inclusion of black athletes. In the face of resistance and adversity to this, Duquesne stood by my father. Duquesne has always had an unwavering commitment to excellence and progress, and I am so honored that my father's legacy will be a part of this advancement which will so greatly benefit the future students and athletes of this school."

The project will create a consolidated, total performance center as well as house a new game-day layout. Additionally, the renovation will add significant square footage to the building site and will positively impact every aspect of the student-athlete experience. Beyond Duquesne Athletics, the facility will serve as a center for community and campus engagement, events and activities.
 
"UPMC is thrilled to be a leading partner with Duquesne University on this exciting renovation to this important space to be enjoyed not only by the students, staff and faculty here, but also by our Uptown neighbors," said Leslie C. Davis, senior vice president, UPMC; and executive vice president and chief operating officer, UPMC Health Services Division. "UPMC remains firmly committed to Uptown - as a health care provider and as a community partner. We applaud Duquesne University's leadership team for its vision of excellence and desire to provide nothing less than world-class facilities and services for this local community and beyond."

The long-term strategic partnership between UPMC and Duquesne University will develop and support mutually beneficial sports performance, sports medicine, employee health and productivity, fitness and nutrition, health and wellness as well as related education and community engagement programs and services to sustain and advance the missions of both organizations. The partnership will focus on establishing an integrated platform of services and capabilities that will benefit Duquesne students, student athletes, employees and dependents.
 
"The UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is a spectacular symbol of UPMC's ongoing passionate commitment to providing long-lasting health and wellness benefits to the university community as well as the people and businesses and visitors to this entire region," said Diane P. Holder, executive vice president, UPMC; president, UPMC Insurance Services Division; and president and CEO, UPMC Health Plan. "We can only do this type of extensive collaboration with organizations who truly share our vision of excellence, like Duquesne does, and so we are honored that they chose us."
 
"A newly revitalized facility will be not only at the heart of our campus but at the heart of this entire community," Duquesne University President Ken Gormley said. "This exciting renovation is an important next step in furthering one of Duquesne's key strategic initiatives. Just as Duquesne helped to build Pittsburgh at the turn of the 20th century, Duquesne now plays a central role in the development and sustainability of the city's Uptown EcoInnovation District and the entire region around us. This all would not be possible without the generous support of our leading partner, so I extend our sincerest gratitude to UPMC and everyone who has made a commitment to make this project a reality."
 
In addition to private and corporate support, the University has been awarded a grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). The RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget that was developed for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects.
 
"We are humbled and blessed to have received so much support from a long list of benefactors," Dave Harper, director of athletics, said. "We aspire to be a highly-valued member of the Atlantic 10 and Northeast conferences. As we continue to implement our athletics strategic plan, this project gives us the tools to target academic and competitive performance as we work to build our brand locally, regionally and nationally."  
 
To view and learn more about the extensive physical, performance and programmatic changes as well as their impact on student-athletes, please click here.

Duquesne University
Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and tradition of academic excellence. Duquesne, a campus of nearly 9,500 graduate and undergraduate students, has been nationally recognized for its academic programs, community service and commitment to sustainability. Follow Duquesne University on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. www.duq.edu

About Charles "Chuck" Cooper
Chuck Cooper, a Pittsburgh native who earned his bachelor's in education at Duquesne and a master's in social work at the University of Minnesota, became the first African American to be drafted by an NBA team when he was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round in 1950.  During his six-year NBA career, he also played for the Milwaukee Hawks and Fort Wayne Pistons, helping to lead his team to the playoffs five times. After Cooper's basketball career, he went on to become Pittsburgh's first African American department head when he was named to lead the Parks & Recreation Department in 1970. Later, he enjoyed a successful career as a community development officer for PNC's predecessor, Pittsburgh National Bank. Throughout his career, Cooper continued to volunteer his talents and support to various boards and civic organizations. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and in 1983 Duquesne established a Chuck Cooper Award to honor talented basketball underclassmen.

About the Chuck Cooper Foundation
The Chuck Cooper Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to honoring the legacy of Chuck Cooper by helping further the education of our young people. The mission of The Chuck Cooper Foundation is to continue the legacy of Charles "Chuck" Cooper, the first African-American drafted into the National Basketball Association, by awarding graduate-level scholarships and providing leadership development programs, mentoring and networking opportunities to underserved high school and college students. The goal of the Chuck Cooper Foundation is to propel students to success in higher education in order to achieve their highest potential in their careers and ultimately, in life.
 

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ADDITIONAL KEY PROJECT NOTES

Gilliand Center for Academic Success and Gilliand Pavilion
A gift from the Merle E. Gilliand Foundation will establish the Gilliand Center for Academic Success and the Gilliand Pavilion, which will feature the new Hall of Fame.  The academic center will be one of the most unique in the country, featuring the 150-seat Father Sean Hogan Lecture Hall, academic commons and individual instructional rooms. The new Hall of Fame will feature a kiosk recognizing Duquesne's rich athletics history and will be relocated to the open concourse with views of the city.

PNC Leadership Academy
PNC and Duquesne Athletics will partner to create the PNC Leadership Academy. Housed in the Gilliand Center for Academic Success, the Academy will offer comprehensive programming pillars focusing on servant leadership, career pathways, winning habits and performance, and inspiring and impacting others. "Duquesne University offers a nationally-recognized and distinctive education for its students.  The PNC Leadership Academy will serve to augment that exceptional foundation.  We want to continually help our student-athletes evolve their skills and broaden their person as they take critical steps in launching their careers and life pathways," Harper said.
 

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ADDITIONAL PROJECT FEATURES

Vaccarello Center
This proposed indoor center will be named for former Duquesne football player Vinnie Vaccarello. The center will feature an indoor practice and recreational space, including a 60-yard enclosed field and track.

Joe and Kathy Guyaux Practice and Player Development Center
Existing practice areas will be renovated to include two full basketball practice courts, an observation balcony and team dining areas.

John and Karen Folino Sports Performance Center
This area along Forbes Avenue will feature nearly 10,000 square feet of training equipment, sports performance labs and a nutrition center.

Schaming Family Basketball Suites
New office areas and support areas for men's and women's basketball will feature a film room, individual instructional rooms and meeting rooms.

Jerry and Janet Cholewinski Athletic Suite
Offices to house most of the athletics staff and coaches will be under one roof. This space will also include meeting rooms and departmental offices.

A.J. Palumbo Atrium and Gate
In honor of the original gift that made the site of this renovation possible, a new gate and atrium area will be created. It will be the main entryway and provide access to a new fan store, concession area and Vaccarello Center.
 

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• A modernized facade that engages the building as a major thoroughfare from the Bluff to the Uptown neighborhood
• Wider, more accessible concourses with improved concession areas
• Premium seating opportunities on the club and suite levels
• Expanded and upgraded technology throughout the facility, including state-of-the-art video boards, concourse and club-level televisions, along with an upgraded sound system
• An expanded sport performance center featuring a new weight room and nutrition bar
• The Gilliand Center for Academic Success with a 150-seat Father Sean Hogan Lecture Hall and PNC Leadership Academy, academic commons and instructional rooms
• An all-weather practice facility on the site of the current McCloskey Field
• Renovated team locker rooms for men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, track and field, and cross country
• Dedicated space for rowing training
• New ticket office and team shop
• New office space for coaches and athletics staff

 

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WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"The commitment to a facility of this caliber shows that Duquesne is serious about being a top-flight nationally prominent basketball program. This building will allow us to recruit against anyone. In order to have a great program you have to be great at everything. This project is a giant step in that direction." -- Keith Dambrot, Head Men's Basketball Coach

"This is a transformational project for Duquesne University, our athletic department and the Uptown community. We are beyond excited to see the end result in 2020." -- Dan Burt, Head Women's Basketball Coach

"Student-athletes in this day and age want something fresh, something new. They're looking for athletic departments that really care about the whole student-athlete. It will be a game-changer for our program." -- Steve Opperman, Head Women's Volleyball Coach
 

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Q&A

When will the project begin and what is the anticipated time frame for completion?
The renovation is set to start at the conclusion of basketball season in March 2019. Phase I of the project is targeted for completion before the 2020-21 athletics season.

What teams will be directly affected?
In addition to men's and women's basketball, the DU volleyball team will relocate home games in 2019-20. Coaches and administrative staff housed in the current Palumbo Center will relocate on campus.

Where will men's and women's basketball as well and volleyball teams practice and compete during construction?
All three teams will practice at the Power Center on campus. Men's and women's basketball will play as many games at PPG Paints Arena as possible and will pursue other venues as necessary. Volleyball venues are still being finalized.

What fan amenities will be included in the renovation?
Fans will be treated to more spacious concourse areas, improved concession and food offerings, state-of-the art high-definition video boards as well as a team shop.

How can I help support the project?
Opportunities to support the new facility range from $25 (inclusion on the Community of Donors wall within the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse) to individualized naming rights for lockers, office spaces and other physical areas. Gifts may be made online: www.myduquesne.duq.edu/dafgiving  or by calling 412-396-5927. For more information regarding specific naming rights, please contact Bryan Colonna at 412-396-5927.