ESCANABA — Bay College’s new athletic locker room addition will become a reality this academic year with construction starting Nov. 7. The 6,000 square foot addition includes two home team locker rooms, two away team locker rooms, a coach’s/referee locker room, a sports conditioning room, offices and meeting space. In June 2017, the Hannahville Indian Community announced Bay College would receive funds to improve the athletics program.

“The College is very excited to move forward on this project for Athletics and we are very grateful that the Hannahville Indian Community has funded this much needed addition,” said Bay College President Laura Coleman.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the facility expansion is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 4:30 p.m. The event will be held at the project site, the east side of the Delta Northern Lights YMCA on Bay College’s Escanaba campus.

“This is a very exciting time for our student-athletes,” said Athletic Director Matt Johnson. “It’s significant on a lot of different levels. It is good for our student athletes because it helps us avoid conflicts and have a structured calendar for their academic schedule. The athletic training room will be better equipped to keep them healthy and in the game. It’s also big for our staff. This is their classroom, this is where they teach. Having their offices and classroom near the gym will better allow them to help prepare our student athletes.”

In order to build this addition, there will be a construction zone that will extend into the existing YMCA parking area, and it will impact some of spaces closest to the Y front entrance, including the nearest handicapped parking.

Although this will be an inconvenience for a few months (ending in June), there will still be ample parking, including some of the near spaces reserved for people with disabilities, according to officials.