After nearly 100 years of housing Harvard athletics programs, Carey Cage is slated for demolition in the next few weeks.

Athletes and preservationists said yesterday they had only recently become aware of the impending destruction of the cage, which is home of the varsity weight-room and an architectural landmark.

According to Harris S. Band, director of comprehensive planning, the cage will be demolished to accommodate a new racquet facility being built behind it and to "create an appropriate entry point to the eight major athletic buildings."

"The area where Carey Cage is criticall because it is the entry point which enables people to know where they are...And we are attempting to create an appropriate entry experience, an entry plaza," Band said yesterday.

University officials said the move is being made as part of the reshaping of the Harvard Stadium athletic area.

Officials said weight training would be moved to the to the Gordon Track and Tennis Center, but athletes interviewed yesterday said they had heard training would be spread across a number of facilities.

"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," said Greg J. Garber, assistant athletic director for operations.

Athletes said they had not been officially informed about the change. None of those interviewed knew exactly how their weight-training would be affected.

"I think all athletes are disappointed because our training will be reduced," said Ailey Y. A. Penningroth '97, a member of the track team. "Part of the difficulty is that people were never told outright. We just heard two days ago and the shock is still there."

According to Garber demolition is scheduled for the week following Thanksgiving.

Carey Cage was renovated only three years ago to establish the current varsity weight room, widely described as one of the best in the Ivy League.

Historic Concerns

Although the University claims it has received no opposition on this project, some preservationists complained yesterday that they were never notified of the demolition.

"The area around the stadium is the sight of the most significant modern architecture at Harvard and the potential for demolition by Harvard of a major architectural firm's structure is a situation of the utmost gravity in terms of respect for architecture," said Margaret Floyd, an author of a book on Harvard architecture and a professor of architectural history at Tufts.

University officials contends, however, that they acted to balance preservation and necessity.

"In terms of historic preservation, we focused on [preserving] the stadium," Band said. "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."