Athletic suites in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex will be named in honor of Edward K. and Joan R. Bratton, of Indiana.
The Council of Trustees approved a resolution for the naming during its public meeting September 25, 2009.
In March, Dr. Tony Atwater, IUP president, announced that the university received a $1-million gift from Bratton for the KCAC.
In approving the resolution, the trustees noted that the Brattons “believe in community-university support for the KCAC” and “are renowned for their significant, long-term consistent vision and wisdom for their generous support of IUP.”
Construction officially began February 16 for the KCAC, a $53.49-million, 150,000-square-foot facility to be located along Wayne Avenue adjacent to the university.
The facility includes the 5,000-seat Ed Fry Arena, the 650-seat Christine Toretti auditorium, a conference center, grand lobby, and commercial kitchen.
The KCAC is a Pennsylvania Department of General Services project, scheduled for completion in summer 2011. It is projected to have a $22-million economic impact on the region during construction and an annual economic impact of $12.5 million in each year of operation.
During the March ceremony to announce the gift, Atwater recognized Bratton for “significant, long-term, consistent and generous support to IUP and the Indiana community,” including efforts to benefit the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Indiana County, the Foundation for IUP, Indiana County YMCA, IUP Athletics, American Red Cross, and United Way of Indiana County.
Bratton is the owner of the Giant Eagle store in Indiana.
Other major gifts to the KCAC have included a $2-million donation from the Kovalchick family, of Indiana, for whom the facility is named, and a $1-million challenge gift from Chad Hurley, a 1999 IUP graduate, who made the gift in honor of retired music professor Ed Fry, his former track and field coach. Hurley is one of the founders of video-sharing website YouTube.