Frederick Community College Facilities Master Plan Chapter 4 Needs Assessment 4-58 May 12, 2023 for indoor practice for the outdoor sports of baseball and softball. The Athletics Center will reach its estimated useful life during the life of this Facilities Master Plan and should be considered for repurposing or replacement. Alternatively, the main interior spaces are original to the building and should be upgraded to address life safety issues and meet code. A comprehensive renovation would also provide additional general education classrooms, formal and informal student and team support spaces, improved locker room facilities, and faculty, staff and coaching office areas. Basically, the need exists to provide new facilities, as well as to rehabilitate existing facilities, including renovation and expansion. There are insufficient numbers of outdoor recreation facilities such as basketball and tennis courts. There is no athletic track on campus and there are no fields dedicated for recreational and intramural use. Restroom, concession and storage facilities are not available at many of the athletic fields. Due to anticipated increased activity in athletic programs, there is a need for appropriate practice fields suitable for the varied men’s and women’s programs. Outdoor facilities for both athletics and campus intramural and recreational uses would not only support athletic programs, but would also directly influence academic excellence, student success and institutional viability by fostering better mental and physical health, enhanced workplace performance, and lower levels of stress and anxiety for students, faculty, staff, visitors and the greater campus community users. Contemporary facilities would also allow for large assemblies and community events, such as graduation and convocation ceremonies, to be held on campus. Wellness/Fitness/Recreation There is a demonstrated need for properly located and sized wellness, fitness and recreation facilities at the College. The need is for sustainable facilities that inspire the campus and extended communities to engage in recreation and wellness opportunities. There are very few designated outdoor spaces for active recreation. Available fitness spaces within the Athletics Center that are inadequate in size relative to demand for use. They also present ongoing spatial conflicts with academic instruction and athletic activities. Lastly, providing recreational pathways around the campus would offer access to exercise to improve the health and wellness of the FCC community. Assembly There are no spaces on campus for large gatherings/assemblies/events/conferences other than the Athletics Center gymnasium floor which is inappropriate for such use. The 410-seat Jack B. Kussmaul Theater is insufficient space for large assemblies. By the year 2030 total available space for assembly is projected to be less 60% of the Maryland guideline allowance. There is a need, on a year-round basis, for a special events center for training sessions, community and regional tournaments and events, commencements, concerts, special events, fundraising activities, meetings, conferences, trade shows, and more that are just too large for other available assembly spaces. Physical Plant Operations There is insufficient, inadequate, inappropriate, and in some instances, nonexistent space for physical plant operations such as maintenance shops, storage, and central services. The existing building (Building P) that contains these operations was built in 1996 and its design provides neither the capacity to appropriately house and support the needs of its current occupants, nor the flexibility to easily adapt interior or exterior spaces to changing needs in the future. Furthermore, it is entering into a deferred maintenance stage with interior
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