Yellow hard hats and construction equipment are back at the university, this time making their way up to North Campus to begin work on the university’s newest project.

With the start of the Chargers’ fall seasons, so, too, begins the construction of the 30,000-square-foot Peterson Performance Center (PPC). Construction began in early August and is projected to complete in the fall of 2022.

The goal is for athletics to move into the building fully next fall; however, the move could be done earlier in steps, depending on the state of construction. Strength and conditioning along with sports medicine are projected to be the first into the building, prior to the arrival of fall athletes next year.

The center will house a 7,000-square-foot sports performance center with a complete weight room that includes 20 Olympic weight lifting racks and a 60-yard turf field. The PPC will also house a 1,500-square-foot sports medicine center, a 2,500-square-foot football locker room, along with additional meeting rooms, film rooms and free spaces for athletes to use when they are in the building.

Two years ago, the university announced the addition of Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger whose goal was to bring New Haven athletics to the Division I level–the addition of the PPC is a step towards that goal.

Associate Director of Athletics/Strategic Communications Dan Reude said that upgrades to current athletic facilities could be down the road after completion of the PPC. “Ideally, we could begin some upgrades to Charger Gym,” said Reude, “primarily with the locker room spaces to provide better facilities for our athletes.”

As the athletics department continues to grow and expand, the idea of placing the athletes first continues to be a priority.

Reude also said that more buildings are “still just discussions,” but the PPC will not be their final project.

With Zenger’s goal of the Chargers in Division I, Charger Athletics will continue to grow and expand, and yellow construction hats and heavy machinery will continue to be seen on the campus.