At 11 o'clock Monday morning the Athletic Association will officially open the New Hemenway Gymnasium, to which the finishing touches are being added today. Under construction since May 1 of this year, the building is now completed and ready to furnish squash, badminton, and basketball courts to members of the University.
The Hemenway, furnished with the most modern equipment available, replaces the original Hemenway, a gift of Augustus Hemenway '79 and built in 1879, when it was considered the finest athletic building in the world. After serving a useful purpose in undergraduate life for fifty years, the old gym gave way to the Indoor Athletic Building. When the site of the old Hemenway was taken for the Littauer Center, plans were made for a new and up-to-date building.
Old Weather Vane
To preserve the atmosphere of the famous landmark, the slate from old Hemenway's roof and its original weather vane are used in the new building.
Located on Massachusetts Avenue directly north of the Yard, the Hemenway of today has three levels, the lower two of which contain 12 squash courts. On the third level there is a main gymnasium which provides one large basketball court, two smaller ones, or three badminton courts, depending upon the demand from the men using the building. In addition, on the third level is a special exercise room where volley ball or badminton may be played.
With every measurement precise to a sixteenth of an inch, the newly completed squash courts are among the finest in the country. For every court there is a gallery for either spectators or for coaching purposes; moreover, a coach may direct on several courts at once. Two of the courts may be used for handball as well as squash.
752 Lockers
Shower rooms are located on both the first and second levels. Seven hundred and fifty-two general lockers are available; while 18 lockers have been provided in a special room for coaches and teams.
According to the Athletic Association's plans, the gym will be open daily from 11 o'clock in the morning to 7 o'clock at night. Certain squash courts are to be reserved for the Varsity and Freshman teams between the hours of two and six. The building will be under the direction of the Athletic Association and may be used by all holders of participation tickets. In direct charge of the program is Norman Fradd, Assistant Director of Physical Education: Chief Instructor in the building is Howard Cox.
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