The ISU Athletics Department will spend an additional $325,000 to build a new multipurpose indoor training facility near Jack Trice Stadium.

The increase was approved by the Iowa Board of Regents Wednesday afternoon. The 92,000-square foot facility was originally approved at an approximate cost of $9 million.

The additional funding will be used to replace the existing artificial turf and to make improvements on the building’s structure and lighting, according to board documents.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, said the biggest change to the original plans will be installing all-new artificial turf.

“The original plan was to build [the facility] over the existing turf. After examining the costs, it was found that it would be more cost effective to replace it with new turf than to build around what is there,” Madden said.

Frank Randall, assistant athletic director, said replacing the turf is the best choice for the project.

“There was a certain cost involved to protect the turf so we could walk in and say the turf was exactly as it was before construction,” he said.

It would have cost more to protect the existing turf and ensure that no damage was done to it than to purchase a new turf because of the number of cranes needed to construct the facility, Randall said.

He said the new turf will be placed in the same spot as the old turf, using the existing base.

The new turf will provide a better practice surface for the team during bad weather, said Dan McCarney, head football coach.

“This is obviously a better surface. We’ll use it year round, during the season and during training,” McCarney said. “Nebraska, Colorado and Iowa all have a similar [artificial turf] surface. This is long, long overdue. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity in the Midwest.”

McCarney said the new turf will be better for the athletes.

“The turf is softer, longer bladed and has a better surface,” he said. “There will be less abrasions, burns and injuries with the new turf.”

Randall agreed the new surface would be better for the athletes. “It very closely resembles real turf. The athletes won’t notice a great difference in the softness and feel under their feet.”

Randall said the new facility will be used primarily by the football team but also for soccer, softball and other sports.

“Down the road, other events may be held there, such as the intramural football championships and even some events that are too large for Hilton Coliseum,” Randall said.

Madden said for some of the suggested events to be held in the facility, such as large job fairs, some sort of floor covering will be needed to protect the new turf.

The floor covering is not included in the $9.7 million dollar budget.

“The cost of buying a hard floor surface to cover the turf is near $750,000. The athletic department is working on funding that project, which is separate from the building fund,” Madden said.

Once finished, the new facility will cost nearly $100,000 per year for general upkeep, said Tom Kroeschell, associate director for media relations for the athletic department.

Madden said the facility is scheduled to be completed by late fall of this year, or possibly by winter of 2004.