Athletic & Fitness Center

Athletics are essential to today's Chatham women. They play competitive sports in record numbers, and fitness and health are an important part of their daily routines. With our seven NCAA athletic teams, students' increased interest in fitness and wellness, and a campus population of over 1,200 by the late 1990s, Chatham's Gymnasium became inadequate and outdated. In 1996 our campus master planner referred to the Gymnasium as "the finest example of a 1950s junior high gym still in operation." To remedy this, Chatham built its new Athletic and Fitness Center, dedicated on October 22, 2004.

The new Athletic and Fitness Center is adjacent to Andrew W. Mellon Hall and the Carriage House. The two-story, four level building, designed by architects Hastings + Chivetta of St. Louis, includes a 650-seat gymnasium; eight-lane competition swimming pool with two 1-meter diving boards; a cardio/fitness theater; dance/aerobics studio; two international regulation squash courts; and a 25-foot climbing wall.

Chatham raised more than $16.7 million toward the $18 million cost. The College wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Chatham alumnae, Martha Haase Carson '62 and Nancy Follett Waichler '55 (pictured above with the Chatham Cougar), who, along with a committee of Chatham alumnae and friends, led this successful effort.

$800,000 Kresge Challenge Met!
On October 1, 2004, Chatham University met its second Kresge Challenge in 5 years. Raising more than $4 million ($1.3 Million for the 2003-2004 Annual Fund and $2.7 Million for the Athletic and Fitness Center) in a period of 18 months, The Kresge Foundation released an $800,000 grant for the AFC.

Naming opportunities are still available.