Duquesne University has unveiled a $45 million reconstruction plan for the A.J. Palumbo Center.
Set to break ground in March, the modernized and re-imagined facility will be named UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in honor of men’s basketball legend and NBA trailblazer Chuck Cooper.
The project will create a consolidated, total performance center as well as house a new game-day layout.
“Additionally, the renovation will add significant square footage to the building site and will positively impact every aspect of the student-athlete experience. Beyond Duquesne Athletics, the facility will serve as a center for community and campus engagement, events and activities,” the university said in a statement.
In addition to private and corporate support, the university has been awarded a grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget that was developed for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects.
The Palumbo Center is a 4,406-seat multi-purpose arena in Pittsburgh served by exits on both Interstate 376 and Interstate 579. The arena opened in 1988, and is part of Duquesne University. It is home to the Duquesne Dukes basketball, volleyball and wrestling programs. The center hosts concerts, boxing, and other special events, and is capable of converting the seating arrangement into a sport, stage, or theatre setup.
