Colgate University Takes First Steps on Carey Center Construction

The Carey Center is named in honor of Trustee Emeritus Chase Carey '76 and recognizes a lead gift of $28 million from Carey; his wife, Wendy; and their children, Steve '12 and Tara '13. Leadership philanthropic support from several additional donors has allowed Colgate to advance the project, representing a significant commitment to Colgate's student-athlete experience.

Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects in partnership with Grace Design Studios, the Carey Center is designed to centralize athletic functions that are currently dispersed across campus, creating a high-performance hub for all 25 Division I teams.

Key features of the new center include:

• Performance Arena: A 1,650-seat arena for basketball and volleyball featuring a center-hung video board and state-of-the-art broadcast capabilities.
• Expanded Training Spaces: A new strength and conditioning center that is 75% larger than current facilities in Huntington Gymnasium.
• Football Operations: A dedicated western wing for the football program, including locker rooms and meeting spaces that will be unique within the Patriot League.
• Integrated Sports Medicine: A centralized space for sports medicine and nutrition to improve efficiency for student-athletes.

"This is the beginning of a new era for Colgate Athletics and we are excited to provide our student-athletes with a high-performance environment that matches their elite-level ambition," says Yariv Amir '01, vice president and director of athletics. "The Carey Center will be a place where championship culture is built, where the Colgate community gathers, and where the next generation of student-athletes can access critical resources to excel, both on the field of competition and in the classroom."

The Carey Center is a primary anchor of a broader vision for the athletics neighborhood, which will eventually include a new Raider Walk and an athletics quadrangle. This development coincides with a $115 million investment in the Broad Street campus, further integrating the athletic, academic, and residential lives of Colgate students.

"We are deeply grateful to the Carey family and our entire donor community for helping us realize this vision for our student athletes and entire Colgate community," says Kim Harris, vice president of advancement. "Watching the athletic neighborhood begin to transform, you can feel the palpable energy - it's exciting to think about what the entire community will experience when construction is complete."

The Colgate community and supporters are invited to attend an official groundbreaking ceremony during reunion weekend on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the J.W. Abrahamson Tennis Courts.