Providence College Breaks Ground for Ruane Friar Development Center
A gift from former Providence College Board of Trustees Chair Michael A. Ruane ’71 & ’13Hon. and his wife, Elizabeth Ruane, is the catalyst for the College to begin construction.
Providence, R.I. – Providence College (PC) broke ground today for the Ruane Friar Development Center, a new, multi-purpose facility attached to Alumni Hall. The first phase will include a basketball practice facility and space for associated Department of Athletics activities. The two-story facility will enhance significantly Friar athletics, student services, and College community life.
Participants in the groundbreaking ceremony included Providence College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ‘80, PC Executive Vice President & Treasurer Fr. Ken Sicard, O.P. ’78, PC Board of Trustees Chair John Killian ’77, PC Associate Vice President & Athletic Director Robert G. Driscoll, Jr., Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer John Sweeney, Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement Gregory P. Waldron, Providence College Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ed Cooley, and Former PC Board of Trustees Chair Michael A. Ruane ’71 and ‘13Hon. and his wife Elizabeth.
The groundbreaking was made possible by the generosity of the Ruanes. Combined with a commitment to create the Michael A. Ruane Distinguished Chair in Economics, the Ruane’s gift is the largest the College has received from a living alumnus. It represents a leadership investment in the College and its future, from a family renowned for its commitment to PC.A portion of the Ruane’s gift also will support program enhancements to help Friar athletic teams compete for championships and strive for excellence.
“We owe much of what Providence College has become – and what it will be in the future – to Mike, Liz, and the Ruane family,” said Fr. Shanley, O.P. “Through their example and their generosity, they inspire us to strive to be the best, and this facility will help us succeed at the highest level.”
“This gift from Mike and Liz is essential for our student-athletes to have continued success on the national level,” said Bob Driscoll. “This construction project represents the culmination of investments over the last decade, allowing us to create state-of-the-art facilities for all our athletics teams and helping us to capture BIG EAST and national championships.”After graduating from PC in 1971 with an economics degree, Michael Ruane earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founding owner, chair, and managing partner of Boston-based TA Realty, one of the nation’s largest real estate investment advisory firms.
In addition to two faculty chairs – one in economics and one in business – the Ruanes have provided unprecedented support to PC over the years. The Ruane Center for the Humanities, dedicated in 2013, is named for them, as is the Ruane Atrium at Concannon Fitness Center. “Providence College has extraordinary coaches and other leaders in place, working hard to foster the teamwork that drives success.” Ruane said. “By providing the facilities that match or exceed those of our competitors, and by challenging our student-athletes to improve every day, we will see a continuation of the excellence and upward trajectory that characterize the College community and its athletics programs.”
In addition to a two-court basketball practice facility, Ruane Friar Development Center Phase I includes the construction of an atrium spanning Alumni Hall and Slavin Center, an athletic training center, offices, a new Friar Athletics Hall of Fame (featuring a College-commissioned statute of former PC Men’s Basketball Coaches Joe Mullaney and Dave Gavitt), and a dining room, along with other infrastructure improvements. It will set the stage for Phase II, to feature a new Center for Career Education and Professional Development and an expanded, renovated ’64 Hall (the College’s largest function facility, located in Slavin Center).
(Note: An artist rendering of the building and the statue can be found here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/DQC2L)
Forecasted at nearly $30 million, Phase I construction is expected to be completed early in 2018. Phase II, estimated at $7.5 million, will be scheduled for a time that will maximize efficiency relative to work on Phase I, while minimizing any disruption to student life and activities.
“This is an exciting day for PC Men’s basketball and for our entire Athletics Department,” said Ed Cooley. “We appreciate the generosity of Mike and Liz and that of all the Friar fans who have made this possible with their support. Having great facilities is imperative in helping the development and growth of our student-athletes, and for us to compete in the BIG EAST conference.”
Noting that the biggest impact of the Phase I project will be on the Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, and Volleyball Programs, Driscoll pointed out that student-athletes from other sports also will benefit from access to the facility, as it will promote academic success, team-building, skills development, conditioning, and wellness. “Mike and Liz have worked consistently to promote the advancement of student-athletes and programs for both women and men,” Driscoll said. “In that context, it is particularly fitting that the Ruane Friar Development Center will provide wide-ranging benefits for student-athletes across all of our programs.”
The project will expand the venerable Alumni Hall to the west, with glass facades that complement the adjacent exteriors of Slavin Center and Concannon Fitness Center. The atrium will create a welcoming, informal gathering space for the College community, and a large entrance patio will become a useful multi-purpose outdoor location that will serve as an impressive backdrop to the Ray Treacy Track facility.
“The Ruanes recognize the complementary nature of all elements of the PC experience, be they academic or athletic, and they strategically invest to move the College forward,” said Gregory T. Waldron, senior vice president for institutional advancement. Waldron also pointed to the ongoing collaboration among several campus partners in advancing this initiative, specifically crediting Senior Vice President for Business and Finance/CFO John M. Sweeney, Driscoll, and Steven R. Napolillo ’98, senior executive associate athletic director for external relations. “It is always great to be part of a team effort,” Waldron said.
Driscoll echoed Waldron’s comments, noting that strong academic programs and facilities help coaches recruit top-notch student-athletes and ensure the kind of academic experience that will help those students find success throughout their lives.
Founded in 1917, Providence College is the only college or university in the United States administered by the Dominican Friars. The Catholic, liberal arts college has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 3,900 students and offers degrees in 49 undergraduate majors. Since 1997, Providence College has consistently been ranked among the top five regional universities in the north according to U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges.”
