In Focus

By Gary Pine '84 continued

"The visibility and the impact of the Felix Event Center is taking the university to a new level," said John Siefker, a parent of three APU students. "When I first saw this, my most dominant impression was, 'This is something radically new. The Lord is taking so much blessing and dumping it on this university.' This center will improve the awareness of the university throughout Southern California."

Constructed by the Whiting-Turner Company of Irvine, California, this community-building facility shares architectural elements with its neighbor, the Hugh and Hazel Darling Library, creating a plaza between the two structures, which also includes the university's bookstore and Heritage Café. Located on the university's West Campus on Foothill Boulevard, these campus additions create an impressive luminary appearance when approaching from the main drive.

In terms of athletic contests, the Felix Event Center houses basketball and volleyball courts along with three additional practice courts for basketball and four more competition courts for volleyball. There are four team rooms, a pair of officials' locker rooms, a green room, and two concession areas. A state-of-the-art athletic training facility occupies approximately 2,100 square feet.

The Hall of Champions adjacent to the main entrance is home to Azusa Pacific's 20 national championship trophies and the Cougar Sports Hall of Fame, paying homage to Cougar legends and the celebrated intercollegiate athletic program.

"I never could have envisioned this-this building is so spectacular," said Cougar Hall of Fame member Tom Nelson '61. "This is unbelievable and a real tribute to some great leadership. Richard, with his vision of what this could be, seemed to marshal the forces and got everybody behind it."

Word about the Felix Event Center is spreading. Visitors drop by on a daily basis to walk through the facility, even when it is not open. Alumni Gary '66 and Jennifer (Jordan '71) Miller, while on a Sunday drive from south Orange County, stopped by to see the impressive site and show it off to other members of their family. The Millers found an errant open door and took a self-guided tour. Late one Saturday night, Ed Munson, founder of the Cougar Sports Hall of Fame and former public relations director of the California Angels and the Oakland A's, was returning to his Brea home when he pulled off the 210 Freeway because he "had to show his wife this great place."

The whispers and rumors about a forthcoming event complex are long gone, for the Felix Event Center is now here. Indeed, it has been a long time coming, but the consensus seems to be that this incredible building was well worth the wait.

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