Park Tudor has received a lead gift from the Irsay family that will spearhead construction of a new campus sports and wellness center. The Irsay Family Sports Center for Health and Wellness will serve as the new home for Park Tudor athletics and physical education.

"We are extremely grateful to the Irsay family for their generous commitment to the Park Tudor community," said Park Tudor's Head of School, Gareth Vaughan. "The new building will be a space to promote health and wellness that nourishes our students' minds, bodies and spirits. It will add to campus life for students of all ages."

The current gymnasium, which was built in 1967, has been demolished to make way for the new building. The sports center is expected to open in November 2021 and will include a fieldhouse, auxiliary gym, multipurpose studio, weight and cardio fitness room and seminar classroom, as well as community spaces and places for students to gather.

Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, daughters of Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay and the next generation of Colts ownership, are Park Tudor alumnae and parents of current Park Tudor students.

"Playing sports teaches essential life skills and reinforces the attitudes and work ethic that are so important to team and individual success," said Irsay-Gordon, who serves as treasurer of the Park Tudor board of directors. "We are proud to help provide a new inspiring learning environment for all Park Tudor students."

In addition, research shows physical activity facilitates learning and supports students' mental health. Exercise helps reduce stress and improves alertness and attention so that students can improve performance in class.

"A hallmark of a Park Tudor education is the balance between academics and extracurricular activities like athletics," said Vaughan. "Eighty percent of our Upper School students participate in sports. Park Tudor has always had a no-cut policy for our teams, because we realize how important it is for students to play a sport if they would like."

Click here for more information and to view a fly-through video of the new space.