Deborah A. Yow: Renovated Reynolds Coliseum still relevant

Regarding the Sept. 29 letter “Expensive showcase”: The letter writer decried the spending of $35 million to renovate iconic Reynolds Coliseum.

The time had come to either renovate or tear down the building, which is now 67 years old. In a unique partnership, the campus and athletics shared the costs for the renovation.

Now, all branches of our armed services have new space in Reynolds, befitting their ROTC students, who are preparing to serve our nation domestically and abroad.

The four varsity sports teams that continue to compete in Reynolds will now have a safe and updated home for their athletes. Those teams are wrestling, gymnastics, women’s volleyball and women’s basketball.

Hundreds of additional Wolfpack student-athletes use year-round the strength and conditioning and sports medicine facilities in Reynolds.

The creation of the NC State Athletic Walk of Fame & History provides an appropriate place to honor the best to ever wear the red and white for the first time in our nearly 125 years of athletic history.

Equally important is that our university can hold convocations, lecture series, concerts and other special events that require seating for 5,000 to 6,000. Because of the renovation, Reynolds Coliseum can serve the campus community well for generations to come.

This story was originally published October 1, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Deborah A. Yow: Renovated Reynolds Coliseum still relevant."