A new chapter in student thriving at American University is officially underway.

At Reeves Field on March 1, 2024, AU broke ground on construction for the Alan and Amy Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance. The Meltzer Center, made possible through a transformational $15 million Change Can’t Wait gift from Board of Trustees member Alan L. Meltzer, CAS/BA ’21, and his wife, Amy Meltzer, is a signature piece of the Student Thriving Complex (STC).  

In addition to the Meltzers’ gift, initial key support for the Meltzer Center came from Board of Trustees member Jack Cassell, SOC/BA ’77, and Denise Cassell, and the Bender Foundation, Inc. Collectively, the STC—which includes renovations to the Mary Graydon Center (MGC)—has received ongoing philanthropic support from the AU community.

Central to the groundbreaking event was a celebration of impact and recognition for all that has brought the Meltzer Center and the STC to this point. Student speakers from AU Student Government, the Graduate Leadership Council, and AU Wrestling emphasized the project’s focus on holistic well-being for the entire student body.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Sylvia M. Burwell thanked donors—a number of whom were present in the audience—and underscored the lasting mark of their support at AU.

“The transformation that will happen over here, where we will be shoveling shortly,” said Burwell, “and to the students who will walk through the doors of the Meltzer Center to train and compete as Eagles, and then step over to the newly renovated Mary Graydon Center, and the Sports Center Annex to access their academic support services, physical and mental health resources, and wellness programs all in one place—all that transformation will happen because of you.”

Before breaking ground with AU leadership, student-athletes, project partners, and the lead donors who made the project possible, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, and Treasurer Bronté Burleigh-Jones described the momentous scope of the STC.

“We are so excited to be here for this groundbreaking, because it is more than just a building,” Burleigh-Jones said. “It’s a significant part of our Student Thriving Complex—the largest student-focused construction project in the university’s history.”

She continued, “This project represents AU’s values and furthers our commitment to offering our students enhanced facilities that provide resources and spaces to develop and sharpen lifelong skills, further a sense of belonging on our campus, foster physical and mental well-being, and build capacity to thrive in an ever-increasingly complex world.”

A Dynamic Campus Complex

Set for completion in 2026, the Meltzer Center will be the first newly constructed athletics and recreational facility on campus in more than 30 years. Its 57,000 square-foot design features state-of-the-art competition, practice, and training facilities—including a competition gymnasium for the wrestling and volleyball programs—and new strength and conditioning, sports medicine, and locker room areas. It will expand recreation, fitness, and community-building opportunities for the entire AU community. 

Conceptual rendering of Meltzer Center

 

Notably, the Meltzer Center will also achieve two significant sustainability milestones by being AU’s first Net Zero and LEED Platinum building, reflecting AU’s continued leadership as the nation’s first carbon-neutral research university.  

The Meltzer Center will be a mission-aligned hub for AU’s Athletics and Recreation Department and support varsity sports, club sports, and overall recreation at AU.

With cutting-edge training and competition facilities, the new center will help AU recruit and retain student-athletes and inspire increased competitive excellence across teams. Its size, scale, and location in the heart of campus expands access and builds recreational capacity. Amidst a time of momentum for the AU Eagles, the Meltzer Center will further enhance AU’s national profile and heighten Eagle pride among students and alumni.   

Already, STC construction and renovations are changing the way students thrive on campus.

As of the January 2024 community update, the new location of the Academic Support and Access Center (ASAC) on third floor of Butler Pavilion has streamlined services that previously were scattered throughout campus into one location. Renovation work has also commenced on the third floor of MGC in spaces that will be both flexible and student-focused, including the new Student Engagement Commons. 

Legacies of Changemaking

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, STC supporters and their families gathered for a reception.

Athletics and Recreation Director Billy Walker thanked the Meltzers, Cassells, and Benders. He shared what the Meltzer Center means to AU Athletics, highlighting its significance for recruitment, competition, and training.

“We needed this facility to recruit and retain the best student-athletes and coaches in the world,” said Walker. “We are going to improve our competitive excellence. . . . And we’re going to continue to train great [individuals] of character who are going to go out and do wonderful things in the world.”

For the donors and university leaders present, the day’s event marked an opportunity to reflect on the personal meaning and poignancy of the project.

Alan Meltzer recognized AU’s growth since he first came to the university on a wrestling scholarship and what giving back to AU has meant to him over the years.

“Look at this place now, it’s unbelievable . . . it’s an amazing place.” Looking ahead to the completion of the Meltzer Center construction, Meltzer added, “I can’t wait for 18 months!”

Jack Cassell shared how meaningful supporting this project has been to him—reflecting on the legacy of his father, Stafford H. "Pop" Cassell, his tenure as chair of the Board of Trustees, and how his gift allowed him to recognize the late Coach Barry Goldberg in the new facility.

“At AU, we try to do the right thing to make the university better. And that’s what AU is all about to me,” Cassell shared.

Similarly, Jason Belinke, Nan Bender, and Jake Bender were present in the audience, representing the Bender family’s longstanding support for AU, including Bender Library and Bender Arena.

Also recognized at the reception was Gail Hanson. Former Vice President of Campus Life, Hanson served AU for twenty years and is as one of the lead donors of the Mary Graydon Center renovations.

“I’m particularly touched by your gift, Gail, by your understanding of and commitment to holistic student development,” said Raymond Ou, Vice President of Student Affairs.

Honoring Visionaries Today—and Tomorrow

As construction on the Meltzer Center and other STC spaces progresses in the coming months, the AU community is continuing to recognize and cultivate philanthropic support toward student thriving.  

Vice President of University Advancement Courtney Surls offered a toast to the Meltzer family, Cassell family, Bender family, Gail Hanson, and other lead donors to the STC.

“It’s clear to me that today’s groundbreaking represents vision in action in its most tangible sense,” said Surls. “These changemakers all said ‘Yes’—to a dream and vision. They saw what this project could do for our athletes, our coaches, our students, our faculty and staff, and for AU.”

With a raised glass, she added: “For your courage to be first, your extraordinary generosity, for your unceasing belief in American University and all that we stand for—we toast you.”

Punctuating an era of milestones, the Meltzer Center and STC represent the Eagle spirit of vision-made-action and will allow generations of Eagles to find and define their purpose through excellence, well-being, and connection.