It was nearly 40 years ago that dedication ceremonies for the newly constructed Sherwood Center included professional tennis matches played on a temporary court in the basketball and volleyball gymnasium. Players on hand for the festivities included Billie Jean King, John Newcombe, Rosie Casals, and Earl “Butch” Buchholz. The Sherwood Center of 1968 has served Whitman and its athletes well for 40 years. It is with the hope that it continue to meet the needs of Whitman students for 40 more years that we launch a $15 million project to remodel and renovate Sherwood Athletic Center. This project is phase two of Whitman’s athletic facilities upgrade. The recently completed Baker Ferguson Fitness Center addressed the fitness and aquatic needs of the College; the Sherwood renovation will provide much-needed gymnasium and court facilities, multipurpose classroom space, training areas, and offices.

Construction is taking place over 18 months from early spring 2008 to fall 2009. To view our progress go to www.whitman.edu/content/athletics/facilities/sherwood/webcam. The dramatic transformation of the interior spaces to meet 21st century varsity athletics needs and student demand will be matched by changes to the exterior, including new brick outside walls, the addition of larger windows, and the enclosure of the climbing wall. We are excited about this project that will enhance the competitive capabilities of Whitman student-athletes and advance our efforts to provide an outstanding program in sports studies.

Upper Level Plan

Climbing Wall

In the 1980s, a climbing wall was gradually installed on an exterior wall of Sherwood Center. Although the wall has been used extensively since that time and the College has made improvements to ensure the utility and safety of the wall, the wall was not originally designed for this purpose. In addition, its location outdoors made it unusable during much of the academic year due to inclement weather. The new indoor wall will allow classes to proceed year-round without interruption and will provide a better course experience for all.

The new wall is being designed by one of the world’s top climbing wall engineering firms – Entre Prises of Bend, Oregon. The plan calls for 7,050 square feet of climbing surface, including a 40-foot-high enclosed vertical climbing wall and a horizontal bouldering area that features a protective floor that allows climbing without ropes to a maximum of 12 feet. The enclosure will feature a wall of windows to allow for natural light and maximum viewing while providing UV filter for the safety of our climbers. We hope to also include a bouldering rock in the amphitheatre entrance, which will be accessible from the outside entrance. An oversized garage-style door will open between the outdoor amphitheatre and the indoor vertical wall to create a space where those who climb can connect with those who watch and provide for increased social interaction. Whitman’s sports studies and recreation department curriculum provides students with outstanding climbing instruction. The new wall has been designed to maximize the effectiveness of those class experiences. It promises to be a standout feature of the redesigned building – bringing together beauty and function on this highly visible corner of campus.

Hall of Fame Foyer and Faculty Offices

The new grand entrance to the Center will lead visitors directly into the Whitman Athletics Hall of Fame Foyer, which will honor former greats and current award-winning student-athletes. This upper-level entrance will provide an open area for gatherings and receptions and connect the entry, main office, and stadium court areas. The entrance will include a skylight atrium and an elevator to provide ADA access to both levels. In addition, faculty office space on that level will be expanded, creating 15 faculty member and coach offices to meet the needs of our programs.

Classroom and Max Seachris Seminar Room

Expanding the building into the current courtyard space will also make room for a new classroom. Along with the Max Seachris Seminar Room, this will provide ample space for athletics and recreation group meetings and sports studies courses.

Exercise Rooms

In the building plans, the exercise room will be renovated and two new exercise rooms added. Pre-renovation Sherwood Center had only one exercise room available for all yoga, Pilates, aerobics, theatre, and dance classes, as well as any informal groups who wanted a group movement space. It has traditionally been one of the most highly accessed areas of the building, leaving many who would like to use it vying for time in the space. We anticipate that with greater availability of space a variety of additional campus groups will use these rooms, including sports recreation classes, club sports, intramural sports, singing groups, cheerleading squads, and others. 

Lower Level Plan

Varsity Gymnasium – Stadium Court

In the summer of 2004, the varsity basketball and volleyball gymnasium was completely overhauled. A new sprung floor was installed and the bleachers were replaced with stronger, more attractive, electronically-powered bleachers with folding seats for hundreds of spectators. The entire gym was repainted and various other improvements were made. Significant upgrades in the lighting were then completed in the summer of 2008. During the 2008-09 academic year, the varsity gym will be available during the construction for competitive athletics and recreational use. We plan to replace the scoreboards in the next year and, in the summer of 2009, the floor will be sanded and repainted as a part of its regular maintenance, so that a completely refurbished gym opens in conjunction with the completed Sherwood Center renovation in the fall of 2009.

Multi-purpose Gymnasium

A new multi-purpose gymnasium will be constructed on the site of the old pool and small gym. This multi-purpose gym will have new folding bleachers and be lined for a college basketball court, two college volleyball courts, and two high school basketball courts. Two portable batting cages with a special net weave and backstops will be constructed so that this gym can be used for indoor varsity baseball and golf practice. The space will also be available for club and intramural sports, including indoor soccer and lacrosse. This additional gym will make Whitman a much more appealing option as a tournament host for a variety of sports.

Training Room

The training room in Sherwood Center will grow to meet the needs of the 220-240 student-athletes it serves each year. The newly expanded and renovated space will include offices for two certified athletic trainers and a work room for a staff of 10-20 student trainers, plus office space and a consulting area for the orthopedic surgeon who serves as Whitman’s team physician. The room will be equipped with a variety of training modalities and treatment tables to tape and treat strains before they become more serious issues. The new training room will enhance access to care for student-athletes and create a better space to implement injury prevention and rehab protocols.

Weight Room

With the addition of the Baker Ferguson Fitness Center to serve the workout needs of the Whitman community, we will use a portion of the former Sherwood Center weight room for team training. This area will house competitive training equipment and include space for dynamic movement, allowing coaches to design training programs that build the combination of strength, speed, and agility particular to each sport. The ability to train consistently as a team will not only enhance athleticism and reduce the likelihood of injury, but will also help build a team culture that supports the pursuit of excellence in athletics.

Locker Rooms and Team Rooms

The Sherwood Center locker rooms were built in 1968 when the College had very few women’s sports. The renovation plan calls for the locker areas to be restructured for current team sizes and to meet other needs of our modern athletics programs. The original large lockers will be replaced so that every varsity student-athlete has their own personal locker and the open space will be divided into smaller team rooms. These six team rooms will provide separate areas for home and away teams and make it possible for us to host multi-team tournaments. Locker and shower facilities will be modernized as well, and a separate audio-visual room will be located away from the locker rooms to hold team meetings and watch game recordings.

A New Era for the Whitman Tradition of Excellence

Whitman, as one of the top-tier liberal arts colleges in the nation, provides outstanding academic and co-curricular opportunities. Our athletics and sports recreation programs contribute significantly to the vitality of our community and to the lives of our students, encouraging the determination, character, and leadership necessary for future success. The modernized Sherwood Athletic Center, in conjunction with the new Baker Ferguson Fitness Center, will provide the ideal setting in which our sport studies program, our recreational athletes and fitness enthusiasts, and our competitive student-athletes will flourish. Please join us in supporting this new era in athletics and sports studies at Whitman College.

Renovated entrance from campus interior.

You can help make the Sherwood Renovaton a reality. Make a gift online or complete and mail a pledge, Sherwood Center Renovation Pledge Form.