John Carroll is known for its picturesque campus, classic architecture and strategically condensed layout that poses an intimate setting. Students are able to easily access spots on campus, making for quick walks to class and limited time outdoors once the blustery Cleveland winters begin.

But, part of the reason for John Carroll’s tight-knit community is simple: it’s a byproduct of limited access to land. While this allows for all aspects of campus life to pertain to an immediate area, it also indicates that expansion is nearly impossible. Unless, of course, projects are done on the current campus property, maximizing space that already exists.

This is the goal of one of the most recent construction ventures, John Carroll’s Athletic Wellness and Event Center. In its initial stages, the completion of the project was set for fall 2024, but Jeremiah Swetel, assistant vice president of facility and auxiliary services told The Carroll News something different.

“We think we’ll be done toward the end of the first quarter of ‘25, beginning of the second quarter,” Swetel mentioned. “But there’ll be aspects of the Athletic Wellness and Event Center that come online before we’re completely done.”

And while the delay is certainly an aspect that the John Carroll community may be frustrated with, it’s clear that elaborate projects are more complicated than what the public eye perceives. Swetel told The Carroll News that there are a few reasons why the project is shifting toward a later timeline.

“You know, starting construction on the tail end of the pandemic, and lead times and cost of construction and everything are just really, really high.” According to Swetel, a significant portion of the cause for delay was in part to the discretion of University Heights.

“The City Planning Commission didn’t give our site plan approval right away…and so that essentially put us back about three months,” Swetel summarized. “And so we went to the Planning Commission and it was tabled.”

Certainly, a small amount of land creates a dynamic that the remainder of the University Heights community must face. With the Belvoir Lot gutted for the construction of the Athletic Wellness and Event Center in fall of 2023, the Planning Commission heard from local residents in regard to what the lack of lot space meant.

Win Weizer, a University Heights councilwoman, told The Carroll News that “there were some residents who came to council to complain about parking issues that have been generated by the construction of the field house.” With limited space for parking outside of John Carroll’s campus, the surrounding streets have seen an overflow of vehicles fighting for spots.

What remains the most pivotal aspect of the construction of the Athletic Wellness and Event Center is the end goal. John Carroll boasts an undeniable academic and athletic reputation that almost forces expansion in order to maintain a standard of excellence. While this is a driving force behind the project, current and prospective students pose some concern.

Liam Dodge ‘27 told The Carroll News, “I’m excited to be able to play football on the turf and run on the track in the winter, but as someone who isn’t on a sports team I’m nervous about being able to find a time when a team isn’t using the space.”

Overall, the status of the project seems to elicit opinions from a diverse range of people. While the project coming to fruition will likely create more excitement, John Carroll looks to weigh in on student, community and staff opinion when it comes to the primary function of the new Athletic Wellness and Event Center