Athletic suites in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex will be named in honor of Edward K. and Joan R. Bratton, of Indiana.
The Council of Trustees approved a resolution for the naming during its public meeting September 25, 2009.
In March, Dr. Tony Atwater, Ƶ president, announced that the university received a $1-million gift from Bratton for the KCAC.
In approving the resolution, the trustees noted that the Brattons “believe in community-university support for the KCAC” and “are renowned for their significant, long-term consistent vision and wisdom for their generous support of Ƶ.”
Construction officially began February 16 for the KCAC, a $53.49-million, 150,000-square-foot facility to be located along Wayne Avenue adjacent to the university.
The facility includes the 5,000-seat Ed Fry Arena, the 650-seat Christine Toretti auditorium, a conference center, grand lobby, and commercial kitchen.
The KCAC is a Pennsylvania Department of General Services project, scheduled for completion in summer 2011. It is projected to have a $22-million economic impact on the region during construction and an annual economic impact of $12.5 million in each year of operation.
During the March ceremony to announce the gift, Atwater recognized Bratton for “significant, long-term, consistent and generous support to Ƶ and the Indiana community,” including efforts to benefit the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Indiana County, the Foundation for Ƶ, Indiana County YMCA, Ƶ Athletics, American Red Cross, and United Way of Indiana County.
Bratton is the owner of the Giant Eagle store in Indiana.
Other major gifts to the KCAC have included a $2-million donation from the Kovalchick family, of Indiana, for whom the facility is named, and a $1-million challenge gift from Chad Hurley, a 1999 Ƶ graduate, who made the gift in honor of retired music professor Ed Fry, his former track and field coach. Hurley is one of the founders of video-sharing website YouTube.