Athletic Building

New Athletic Facility Architectural Rending. Field side view.

New athletic facility Architectural Rendering. Front view.

New athletic facility Architectural Rendering. Front view. Press box.

Overview

Greenville University’s athletic program is built on a legacy of stellar coaches and leaders like Smith and Stephens, who exemplified GU’s mission of character and service. Today, GU Panthers stand on the shoulders of these giants, envisioning a newly enhanced athletic complex that extends the heritage and vibrancy of Panther athletics into the future.

Construction began December 2022, and the project is expected to be completed fall 2024.  

• This project gained approval from the Greenville University Board of Trustees.
• A contract was awarded to CMI General Contractors, Inc. Charles McPherson, a GU alum, is owner and CEO.
• This project gained approval from the Greenville University Board of Trustees and the Greenville City Council.

At the John Strahl Athletic Complex work is progressing on two buildings near the football and baseball fields. Those buildings, named in honor of two late GU presidents – W. Richard Stephens and Robert “Ish” Smith – will house locker rooms, meeting rooms, restrooms, and a baseball museum. Also being constructed are a press box, a concession facility, and new bleachers facing the football field and track.

The new building honors the legacy of the late Robert “Ish” Smith, former GU president and baseball coach, and GU President Emeritus W. Richard Stephens, who was instrumental in starting the Panther Football program in 1987.

The vision for the building includes:

• Additional stadium seating
• Rentable event space
• The Robert “Ish” Smith Museum showcasing baseball memorabilia from Smith’s collection from his time serving with U.S.A. and World baseball organizations

The W. Richard Stephens Fieldhouse includes much-needed restroom facilities and locker rooms for multiple athletic teams.

Construction began in June 2023, and the project is expected to be completed fall 2024.

Project Updates

Projects taking shape at GU Athletic Complex

At the John Strahl Athletic Complex, located a mile south of the Greenville University main campus, interior and exterior work continues on two primary buildings, restrooms, a concession stand, and a four-story press box. The materials for the 500-seat bleachers have arrived, but assembly won’t begin until the other parts of the project are closer to
completion.

The buildings are named after two late GU presidents, W. Richard Stephens and Robert “Ish” Smith. The Stephens Fieldhouse, which will include several locker rooms for GU athletes and visiting teams, is currently being dry-walled and painted. Plumbing is being completed at the Smith building, and dry-wall work is underway. It will include displays of GU athletic history, an event room with three large doors open to the football field and track, and concrete patio areas overlooking the football and baseball fields.

Much of the exterior work on the Smith building (left) and the Stephens Fieldhouse (right) is almost done. The press box (center) will be one floor taller than shown.

This view shows the main entrance on the south side of the football field and track, with the concession stands and restrooms on either side of the entrance awning.

The press box will be situated just behind the bleachers. This photo shows the structure at three floors tall. One additional floor will be added to accommodate film crews.

With the exterior of the buildings nearing completion, the focus now shifts to the interior. This view shows the inside of the Robert “Ish” Smith building.

Until late January, the roof on the Robert 'Ish' Smith building had not been installed. The roof is now on, and interior work can begin.

The press box and concessions area are beginning to take shape in this photo. The W. Richard Stephens building is shown in the background.

Work on the steel frame has begun on the buildings at Greenville University's athletic complex. These pictures, taken in early November, show the progress on the two buildings being constructed there.

The Robert "Ish" Smith Museum building, shot in November, has begun to take shape at the athletic complex.

November 2023: Workers deliver piping and other building materials.

Site work continues at the Strahl Athletic Complex as two new buildings take shape there.  These pictures, taken in mid-August, show the footings, plumbing and other early phases of the project that will eventually produce team locker rooms, public restrooms, and meeting rooms in the area between the Greenville University football and baseball fields.

Site work began in June at the John Strahl Athletic Complex as the University prepares to build two structures in an area between the football and baseball fields. When the site is ready, workers will begin constructing the W. Richard Stephens Fieldhouse and the Robert “Ish” Smith Museum in honor of the two former presidents. The area between the two buildings will include new bleachers and a press box.