116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Mount Mercy unveils new athletics facility
CEDAR RAPIDS — The newest addition to Mount Mercy University's growing athletics facilities, the Rinderknecht Athletic Center, is set for its grand opening on Friday.
A transformed warehouse, located at 939 17th Street NE, the athletic center is a 'state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center.' The building offers batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment, plus an area for yoga.
The neighboring building, formerly the Barry K. Wendt building, houses administrative offices.
The renovation was made possible through a substantial lead gift from John Rinderknecht, Mount Mercy trustee and president of Ram Development Company.
'The Rinderknecht Athletic Center is truly a game-changer at Mount Mercy and will make a tremendous impact on the Hill,' Brenda Haefner, vice president for development and alumni relations, said in a release.
The grand opening will have several speakers, beginning at 6 p.m.
An M salvaged from the old Hennessey Recreation Center floor is seen at the end of a sprint track in preparation for the grand opening of Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. The short track could be used by rehabbing athletes getting treatment in the new physical therapy office at the center. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The new weight room in preparation for the grand opening of Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The new weight room in preparation for the grand opening of Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
An area called the dugout is an area for athletes to gather in leisure time, study or use the overhead video projector or the large television mounted to the wall to review game film is seen in preparation for the grand opening of Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Hitting boxes and nets for golfers are seen in preparation for the grand opening of Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Batting and throwing cages are seen in preparation for the grand opening of Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. A computerized video hitting performance system is also a new feature of the center. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The physical therapy suite is seen in preparation for the grand opening of Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. The suite gives the university's staff of physical therapists more room to treat athletes than in the old facility at the Hennessey Recreation Center. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Several putting cups are built into an undulating putting green in preparation for the grand opening of Mount Mercy University's Rinderknecht Athletic Center, 939 17th St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Extensive renovations have transformed the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages, golf hitting and putting greens, a sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment and a dynamic movement area for the university's competitive dance team or for yoga. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
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