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WINONA LAKE - "There's going to be nothing like it," said Grace College and Seminary President Dr. Ron Manahan of a proposed 54,000-square-foot event center. "It will be a shared facility that could be used by the campus, the community and local business."
The college would hold its convocations and chapels there and the facility would be versatile enough to support intercollegiate sports events like basketball and volleyball.
There will be enough stadium seats available for 2,000 people and, with addition of seats on the floor, room for 500 more.
"The community could use it for concerts, lectures or small trade shows. And businesses could bring in large gatherings of employees. It has breakout spaces and technology for business use," Manahan said. "We're not trying replace what currently exists. It is a new venue for larger events."
It is not a performing arts center, he said of the event center, although that's something "we'd still like to see."
A planned site for the building is north of Wooster Road, across from the college library, where the small health center is currently.
No start date has been set, Manahan said. Besides wanting to have the funds to pay for the building, the college is interested in remediation of the former Gatke dump site, which is adjacent to the property. That could be used as a parking lot.
Architectural renderings show the two-story building with a glass facade at the main entrance.
"It will be a nice space," Manahan said.
