University of Maryland Strategic Partnership Breaks Ground on Research and Academics at Cole Field House

The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) gathered with key partners, elected officials and donors on Wednesday to celebrate the latest milestones in the construction of the new Cole Field House.

The event marked the completion of the first phase in construction of the new Cole Field House with a dedication of the just completed indoor practice fields; and celebrated the groundbreaking of the second phase of the project, which includes the Center for Sports Medicine, Health and Human Performance, a clinical treatment center and space for UMD’s Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Led by University System of Maryland Chancellor Robert Caret, UMB President Jay Perman and UMD President Wallace Loh, the event underscored the importance of Cole Field House in putting the state of Maryland at the forefront of training the next generation of researchers, doctors, athletes and entrepreneurs. Maryland Senate President, Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., spoke to emphasize the importance of the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership, and UMD’s head football coach DJ Durkin discussed the world class facilities that UMD’s student athletes will now have access to.

A panel discussion highlighted how Cole Field House will change how we view, prevent and treat traumatic brain injury. The panel, moderated by Chancellor Emeritus of the University System of Maryland, Dr. Brit Kirwan, included Elizabeth Quinlan, Professor, Department of Biology, UMD, and Scientific Co-director, Center for Sports Medicine, Health and Human Performance; Alan Faden, Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, UM School of Medicine, UMB, and Scientific Co-director, Center for Sports Medicine, Health and Human Performance; and Andrew Pollak, James Lawrence Kernan Professor and Chair, Department of Orthopedics, UM School of Medicine Program in Sports Medicine, UMB.

View photos from the event here.

The $196 million project is scheduled to be completed and ready for occupancy in 2019.