Following a nine-month renovation, DePaul Athletics has announced updates to the Sullivan Athletic Center and McGrath-Phillips Arena. (Photo courtesy of DePaul Athletics)
On Monday, Aug. 26, DePaul Athletics announced that the Sullivan Athletic Center and McGrath-Phillips Arena renovations are now complete. Initiated in Sept. 2023, the project includes new locker rooms, restructured sports medicine and sports performance spaces and modernized arena amenities and accessibility features.
“These projects will enhance our student-athletes’ day-to-day training, their recovery efforts and their relationships with each other and the staff as a whole,” says DeWayne Peevy, vice president and director of Athletics.
One of the most notable changes to the space is the introduction of team-specific locker rooms — a first in school history. Each varsity athletics program will have its own space equipped with lockers for individual athletes, personal showers and an integrated audiovisual system. The rooms are also integrated with Teamworks' Digital Display technology, which will allow student-athletes to view their daily schedules, including academic, training, performance and recovery activities.
Updates to the McGrath-Phillips Arena include a resurfaced playing court, LED lighting, a new sound system, updated branding and enhanced accessibility features. A 29-foot by 50-foot Daktronics videoboard has also been added for use during games and other university-hosted events.
Overlooking the arena is a new athlete recovery space, a recruiting room and a conference room. Directly below these rooms is a new weight room with industry-leading workout equipment and performance technology that will set up all 215+ athletes for success as they train.
The renovation project, part of a larger Designing DePaul philanthropic expansion effort, was approved by the board of trustees last fall with the goal of positioning DePaul as a national leader in quality higher education.
“We look forward to trailblazing a first-class student experience that enables our athletes to succeed in each of our 15 sports,” Peevy says. “This success will elevate our institution’s national visibility and reputation, paving the way for revenue growth from admissions, philanthropy and auxiliary revenues, which can then be invested back into academic and institution-based initiatives.”
Additional updates to the facilities include a freshly painted equipment storage area with new industrial washers and dryers, a redesigned hallway to Wish Field and Cacciatore Stadium, a new basketball lounge and branding updates with Athletic's academic advising center.
“Together, we are transforming DePaul into a national model for higher education and using the Athletics department as a vehicle for visibility, exposure, relevance and success,” Peevy says.