PLANS FOR NEW GYMNASIUM
The M.S.U. Independent  5/20/1904

The architects have finished the plans for the new gymnasium at Missouri 
University.  The building will cost $70,000 and will be built of grey stone.  
The site of the building will be on the ground directly east of the present 
boundary of Rollins field.  The present boundaries will be extended east and the 
ground will be graded this summer.

The new building will be three stories high in front and in the back it will be 
two.

The main floor of the new building will be 96 by 92 feet and will be free from 
all obstructions.  The entire building will have hardwood floors and the 
finishing wood will be of the same kind.  Over the gymnasium floor and making 
the second floor will be the suspended indoor running track about sixteen laps 
to the mile.  The track will be covered with the regular track surfacing and 
will be banked at the turns.  The track will be wide enough to let four men run 
abreast.

The front three story portion of the building will be devoted to the various 
offices, trophy, and team rooms.  Each varsity team will have a room for 
meetings and lectures and each will open directly out on Rollins field.  The 
locker rooms and baths will be located in the basement and a space will be left 
for a swimming pool.  This will be put in after the erection of the building and 
it will be large enough for water polo and other aquatic games.  The gymnasium 
will be fitted with every modern convenience and the apparatus will be the best 
that can be purchased.  Preparations will be made for all kinds of routine class 
work and wands and dumb bells and Indian clubs will be provided for class 
drills.

The trophy room will be large and will be fitted up with glass cases for the 
preservation of the trophies and cups won by the teams.  All footballs and 
baseballs used in winning famous games will be kept and all relay banners won 
will be exhibited in the same way.

On the right of the building an outdoor gymnasium will be laid out and all the 
class and routine work will be done out of doors whenever the weather permits.  
Missouri will be one of the first of the western schools to adopt this outdoor 
feature.  The space occupied by the outdoor gymnasium will be about 95 by 100 
feet and directly to the back of it a baseball cage will be built for the 
exclusive use of the baseball team.  The cage will be 95 by 60 feet, the walls 
will be of brick and be about 20 feet high.  The roof will be glass, insuring 
plenty of light.

Inside the cage will be lined by netting on the three compartments and netting 
will be placed over the top of these to protect the glass roof in batting 
practice.

On right of the outdoor gymnasium will be located a number of tennis courts and 
a number of basket ball courts.  These will be for the use of the men on the 
varsity teams, and courts beyond them will be laid out for the other men taking 
the work.  Work has begun already on the ground for these courts and some of 
them will be ready by next fall.  These courts will be laid out in sets of four 
or five and more will be added as it becomes necessary.  Perfect drainage will 
be insured by arranging them in terraces, each set will be about three feet 
above the others.

Practice fields for the class and fraternity teams will be laid out this summer.  
Rollins field proper will be reserved for the exclusive use of varsity teams.  
The running track on Rollins field will be the only think that will be used in 
common by all the men taking the work.  The idea is to get the varsity teams to 
themselves and to make the use of the field something to be worked for.

Plans are now being made for the erection of a gymnasium for the women of the 
University directly  to the south of Read Hall, the dormitory for women.  This 
building will be of stone, and it will be almost as large as the building for 
the men.  None of the details of this building have been perfected as yet, as 
the appropriation has not been made and the management is not able to tell what 
sum will be available for this purpose.  Arrangement will be made to have most 
of the work outdoors, as in the case of the men.  Work will be begun before the 
close of the school year on the grading and rolling of four tennis courts and 
three basket ball courts.  Later several handball courts will be put in.