Jordan Beck | Daily Press Rob Robinson, head women’s basketball coach for the Bay College Norse, is pictured in the new home team women’s locker room — part of an athletic addition to the Northern Lights YMCA building, where Bay College’s gymnasium facility is located.

ESCANABA — About a year after a groundbreaking ceremony took place for an athletic addition to the Northern Lights YMCA building, where Bay College’s gymnasium facility is located, college representatives said Bay has taken occupancy of the new facility.

“We are very excited that the athletic addition has been completed,” Bay President Laura Coleman said.

The addition’s completion marks the end of the first phase of an improvement project for the students, coaches and fans of the Bay College Norse. The first phase includes a total of five locker rooms — men’s and women’s locker rooms for home and away teams, along with a locker room for coaches — as well as offices for Bay’s coaches and a training facility.

The second phase of the project will include a new public entrance to Bay’s gymnasium facility. Additional details for this phase of the project have not yet been announced.

Bay got temporary occupancy for coaches to start using the athletic addition on Sept. 16. Student-athletes began using the facility Monday.

Vice President of Operations Christine Williams said the athletic addition has been helpful for student -athletes at Bay.

“It just gives them an opportunity to … practice their sports and come together as a team,” she said.

Coleman said the new facility will make life easier for Bay’s student-athletes and coaches.

“It really is going to make a huge, huge difference in our athletic program,” she said.

As of Wednesday, Williams said the addition is not technically finished.

“There’s minor work that needs to be done,” she said.

This includes the final polishing of the concrete floor in the facility’s hallway and the installation of cove base.

Williams thanked the Hannahville Indian Community for its financial support of the project.

“We are extremely grateful, because it has had such an impact on our athletes,” she said.

The community contributed $4.8 million through November 2042 towards efforts to expand and renovate Bay’s gymnasium facility and other areas of the Northern Lights YMCA building. The contribution is covering a $3 million private bond and $1.8 million in interest.

$1 million of the bond is being put towards the athletic addition. The remaining $2 million will be used to match public donations made to the Northern Lights YMCA during a fundraising campaign. This campaign will fund improvements made to other areas of the YMCA building through a separate project, which is being handled by the Northern Lights YMCA.

Rob Robinson, head women’s basketball coach for the Bay College Norse, said he was pleased with the athletic addition.

“We’re definitely fortunate to have these kind of facilities here at Bay,” he said.