PISCATAWAY - Rutgers Athletics hosted a topping off ceremony to celebrate and symbolize the placement of the final piece of structural steel in the construction for the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center on Saturday prior to the football game against Maryland at SHI Stadium. Gary Rodkin, Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi, Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs, and junior women's lacrosse student-athlete Taralyn Naslonski all made remarks regarding the significance and impact of the state-of-the-art facility, which is slated for completion in December 2020.

The 80,000-square foot Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center will serve all Rutgers student-athletes and provide a range of resources, including academic advising, learning specialists, peer-to-peer learning lounge, one-on-one and group tutoring, workshops and seminars, and meeting space to host career networking nights with players and alumni. It will include 11 tutoring rooms, 15 academic advising offices and fireside commons, and serve as a home for soccer, lacrosse and athletics administration.

A sports medicine suite, strength and conditioning suite, hydrotherapy area with two plunge pools, a 56-seat tiered film room and a nutrition center will also be included.

The groundbreaking for the Center took place 176 days prior, on April 13, in Athlete's Glen prior to the spring game. Today's event came on the heels of the grand opening for the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center on Sept. 12.

Almost 5,000 individuals have donated and continue to donate to R Big Ten Build, a campaign for athletics facilities that has raised $101,220,854.00 in public and private support, including largest gift in Rutgers Athletics history ($15M) to make the "Rodkin" possible. Additional Facilities to rise via the initiative are the Marco Battaglia Practice Complex, the Fred Hill Training Complex, the Harriett and Bob Druskin Strength and Conditioning Center, the Ron and Joanna Garutti Strength and Conditioning Center, and The Brown Family Football Locker Room.
 

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