SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Two premier projects of the historic Bryant Builds initiative, which has already generated record philanthropic support and resulted in the completion of more than 250,000 square feet of new facilities, will be celebrated and dedicated on September 23-24, Bryant's homecoming weekend. Under the leadership of Bryant President Ronald K. Machtley, in his 21st year at the University, Bryant Builds is the largest and most transformative facilities initiative since Bryant's move from Providence to Smithfield 45 years ago. The construction is made possible by unprecedented levels of philanthropic support for Bryant's capital campaign, Expanding the World of Opportunity: The Campaign for Bryant's Bold Future, which has already raised more than $62 million towards the campaign's $75 million goal.
On September 24, Bryant's stadium complex, including the world-class Bulldog Strength & Conditioning Center, will be dedicated in the name of David M. '85 and Terry Beirne at a special ceremony at 12:45 p.m. The new Beirne Stadium Complex will be the site of the homecoming football game against the Central Connecticut Blue Devils at 1:00 p.m., in a Reunion@Homecoming competition to be broadcast on ESPN3.
Answering the call for innovative leaders prepared with skills essential for the 21st century, Bryant will unveil its trailblazing Academic Innovation Center the day before, on September 23, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. The grand opening event will feature demonstrations of innovative teaching styles and tours of the facility.
BEIRNE STADIUM COMPLEX
Since joining NCAA Division I, Bryant's Bulldogs have achieved more than anyone could have predicted and superior facilities have accelerated the climb. The 4,400-seat Bulldog Stadium, the centerpiece of Bryant University's outstanding athletic facilities, utilizes a design consistent with much larger stadiums, ensuring excellent sight lines and maximum comfort for spectators. The facility began construction in 1999 to coincide with the varsity debut of Bryant football, and in 2009 the stadium underwent a transformation commensurate with competition at the highest level of collegiate athletics. Since that time the complex has been upgraded and changed as new locker rooms were added and one of the nation's best-designed training facilities, the Bulldog Strength and Conditioning Center, was constructed.
Today the Bulldog locker rooms are modern, spacious facilities fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The new team locker rooms for Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Field Hockey, and Football have also received significant upgrades.
Opened in August 2015, the 10,000-square foot Bulldog Strength & Conditioning Center serves more than 550 student-athletes across 22 Division I sports and all Bryant Club sports teams. The facility is a superb model for other institutions and has been a resounding success in its first year, allowing Bulldogs to train with better equipment in less time as a team, resulting in stronger, faster athletes, significantly fewer injuries, and better on-field performances.
"Bryant attracts student-athletes of the highest character, work ethic, drive, toughness, and leadership," said David M. Beirne '85, a former lacrosse player and 2016 Bryant University Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. "The transition to Division I has been extraordinary."
Beirne, a legendary advocate of the "go big or go home" philosophy, is Chairman and cofounder of Fantex Holdings, Inc. He previously was a general partner at Benchmark Capital, the Silicon Valley venture capital firm that was one of eBay's earliest investors. He has served as a Bryant University Trustee since 2003. Beirne and his wife, Terry, are among the University's most generous philanthropists and have made leadership gifts that provided substantial funding for the expansion of Bulldog Stadium and construction of the Bulldog Strength and Conditioning Center, both equal to some of the finest NCAA Division I facilities in the country. They have donated $7 million for enhancements to the Stadium Complex, athletic programs, and student scholarships.
In addition to the Academic Innovation Center and Beirne Stadium Complex, the historic Bryant Builds initiatives include the 80,000-square foot Conaty Indoor Athletic Center, opened in May 2016, featuring a state-of-the-art indoor turf field with a full 100 yards of turf for practice 365 days a year. Bryant is the only private university in the region with a permanent facility of this scale. The building is adjacent to Conaty Park, the University's baseball and softball complex, which was previously dedicated for Sue and Bill Conaty '67 in 2012.
Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., is a leading private university offering an innovative and uniquely integrated business and liberal arts education. The University's 3,700 undergraduate and postgraduate students study in an intensive and immersive learning environment that has been purpose-built for high achievement. Founded in 1863, Bryant is recognized as a leader in international education and regularly receives top rankings from U.S. News and World Report, College Factual/U.S.A. Today, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, and Barron's. Visit www.bryant.edu.
