Raising the Roof to Expand an Historic Center
Wildcat Athletics Center, originally known as Mason Hall, is located on the beautiful, northwest corner of the campus. The ornamental building was constructed in 1946 for Colorado Women’s College. It’s undergone many interior renovations over its 60-year life span with different collegiate owners, at different times housing a pool, bookstore and campus dining center. In addition, the building served as the primary athletics hall with a small gym, fitness center and locker rooms.

As part of the 2008 Denver Campus master plan, it was determined that the structure needed major upgrades. The existing basketball court was too short for regulation play. Men’s and women’s basketball teams had to play all home games at a local high school. The fitness center and locker rooms were too small to meet the demands of the campus community.

With Colorado already established as a national leader in health and wellness initiatives, administrators recognized and embraced the high expectations that current and prospective students have for quality athletic and fitness facilities.The exciting endeavor “improves the student life experience on campus and will help build our campus community,” says J.D. Sawyer, director of operations.

The transformation of the new facility will provide for a regulation-size gymnasium, allowing teams to comfortably compete on campus. It will seat 550 spectators, more than doubling its original capacity. Dedicated Fitness space will triple in size and include an aerobics room along with four varsity-size locker rooms. Expansion has been cleverly configured within the existing building shell, preserving the historic nature of the building’s facade.

“Since Johnson & Wales University arrived in Colorado in 2000, it has, and will always be important for us to preserve and honor the significance of the Park Hill campus while also adapting our facilities to meet the needs of today’s students,” Sawyer notes.

FBI Agent Brings Insight to Conflict
The war on terrorism and U.S. missions in the Middle East were brought into focus by Special Agent in Charge (SAC) James Davis of the Denver, Colo., office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in February.

Davis’ presentation to the Criminal Justice Association (CJA) of the College of Business centered on his experiences as critical incident commander for FBI special agents embedded with forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Agents accompanied the military to examine documents, cell phones, computers and messages that might offer intelligence with a direct impact on the security of the United States and forces doing battle with militants.

One of the first federal investigators included in the interrogation of former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, after his capture, Davis spoke of Hussein’s humane treatment while in U.S custody. He underscored respect for the long histories of the cultures and countries in which the U.S. is currently engaged. “To make sure we are helping instead of hindering other countries, it’s a great necessity that the U.S. cooperate, and learn from other cultures, as well as teach,” Davis told the gathering.

CJA members called the lecture a “one-of-a-kind” experience, more enlightening than typical media coverage.