SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The relocation of Union College's hockey teams to a new rink at the M&T Bank Center presents a unique opportunity to reimagine the Achilles Center, which was built in 1975 to house the Union hockey programs. In its new iteration, Brooks Field at Achilles Center will benefit numerous Union varsity teams, the entire Union community and the greater Schenectady area.
 
A $1 million gift from Andy '78, P'13 and Sana Brooks P'13 will support the reconfiguration of Messa Rink into a new 27,000-square-foot indoor turf facility. To be named Brooks Field at Achilles Center, it is set to be completed by January 1, 2026.
 
"We are so grateful to Andy and his family for this transformational gift that will convert Achilles Center into an incredible indoor turf practice facility," said Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin '93. "This facility will allow our lacrosse, softball and baseball teams to prepare for their seasons in ideal conditions during the winter months, while also providing many other Union athletic teams with out-of-season practice opportunities that were not previously available. In addition, it will create new openings for our students to engage in recreational and intramural activities as well."    
 
"Sana and I are honored and humbled to be able to help in the transformation of Achilles Center," said Brooks. "I remember being at Union when H. Laurence Achilles made his magnificent gift to the College. Supporting student-athletes and the broader College community gives us great joy. My son Bonsal '13, daughter-in-law Stephanie McCarthy Brooks '13 and my oldest brother Steve '71 all had a terrific Union experience. In addition, it was Steve's classmate Ned Dukehart '71 who told me about a job opening on the Equity Trading Desk at T. Rowe Price, the Baltimore-based investment management firm. It led to a nearly 40-year career and has made this support of the College possible. I am beyond grateful."
 
Brooks has a longstanding connection to Union College, especially the lacrosse teams. As a student, he played in the midfield for Union under legendary lacrosse coach Bruce Allison and watched his son Bonsal '13 play four seasons on defense for Union as well.
 
"We are profoundly grateful to Andy Brooks and the Brooks family, whose remarkable gift will have a lasting impact on our lacrosse program," said head men's lacrosse coach Derek Witheford '11, who played alongside Bonsal at Union. "As both an alum and the parent of a lacrosse alum, their generosity reflects a deep and enduring commitment to our student-athletes and the school as a whole. This facility will elevate our program and enhance the experience for our athletes and recruits for years to come. We are honored by their support and inspired by their vision for the future."
 
The space will provide Union with an on-campus indoor turf facility for the first time, allowing for Union's varsity teams to practice indoors during the winter. Combined with the existing Memorial Fieldhouse, the facility will allow coaches more flexibility in scheduling practice times, helping to alleviate the need for off-campus practices during the winter and limiting the need for early-morning or late-night sessions. The new turf also will create an additional space for Union's club sports and recreational offerings. 
 
Also as part of the renovation, the upper levels of Achilles Center will be converted into additional spots for student-athletes to train, including dedicated batting and pitching areas for the baseball and softball teams.
 
The first stage of the project began in April, when the hockey boards and glass were taken out, followed by the removal of both the lower- and upper-level bleachers. The demolition was made possible by the generosity of Keller Construction under the direction of president John Keller '91, who also was a four-year lacrosse player at Union and has been a longstanding supporter of the College. Keller ranks second in Union lacrosse history in goals, assists and points, and was inducted into the Union Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.
 
"This facility is game-changing for our teams in so many ways, and we cannot thank Andy Brooks and his family enough for making this a reality," said head women's lacrosse coach Alyssa Treanor. "This turf will provide our student-athletes with many opportunities to work on their game without the need to sacrifice academic or personal time, which will allow them to be better players and better students. This is also a hugely important tool in recruiting prospective student-athletes to Union and showcases the commitment that the College has to athletics as a whole. We can't wait to get onto the new turf this winter."
 
In addition to the new turf, Achilles Center also houses the Travis J. Clark '00 Strength Training Facility, a state-of-the-art workout area exclusively for the use of Union student-athletes, as well as the College's primary sports medicine facility. As part of the renovation, several Union teams and coaches will also move their locker rooms and offices into the new space, and a new lounge area will be created for student-athletes to complement the Garnet Room in the lower level of the building. 
 
"Brooks Field will be another important addition to the long list of recent upgrades to athletic and campus facilities that serve our students. We are proud to honor the members of the Brooks family who received their education in the classrooms and on the fields of competition at Union," added McLaughlin.