"In terms of historic preservation, we focused on the stadium," said Harris S. Band, director of comprehensive planning for the University.

"We agonized about this decision--Harvard did not come to it quickly or lightly, but we felt in terms of historical significance a functioning athletic area with Harvard Stadium as the center was our primary concern. Carey could not be used for the modern athletic purposes needed."

But historians said yesterday the building could easily have been moved or reused if Harvard no longer valued it.

"I don't see why there would be a problem in moving a steel frame building as long as the building was not especially huge," said Cynthia Zaitzevsky, a lecturer on architectural history at the Radcliffe Seminars Program and the author of several articles on area architecture.

"I'm most concerned that the building was taken down so fast," she added. "At least it could have been photographed inside and out."

Where Work Out Now?

History aside, those most directly impacted by the demolition said yesterday they will forgo the luxuries of the cage now to get a better facility later.

Although the cage was renovated just three years ago, administrators intend a new training facility in the planned racquet structure.

Athletes said yesterday they will now practice at Gordon, where training schedules will be designed for the many teams which formerly trained at Carey.

Mark J. Levy '96, who is captain of the baseball team, said his team will sacrifice now in order to enjoy a better facility in the future.

"They're putting in a brand new tennis facility, administrators' offices [and] a weight room," he said. "It will take up the whole new parking lot."

Still, Levy said, fitting all the teams into the smaller Gordon weight room will take some administrative juggling.

"If there is some creative scheduling done and guys realize that they have to go at different hours," he said, weight training would be unaffected by the move. "It will take a lot of patience by everyone."

Men's hockey Captain Bradley G. Konik '96 agreed that moving the weight room to Gordon will probably work out fine.

"Carey was obviously a really nice place to lift," he said. "[Gordon is] just not quite as good facilities. We might have more of an overlap with people needing to use the same machines."

Administrators predicted minimal problems with the move.

"There's no question Carey was a very lively facility for our department and in the interim period we do not have a weight room--we're looking forward to a new weight training facility," Greg J. Garber, assistant athletic director for operations said earlier this month