Staff Writer

University of New England officials say a $10 million gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation will transform the Biddeford campus.

Gregory Powell, chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation, announced Friday the gift will be used to create the Harold Alfond Athletics Complex and invest in inter-professional health care work force education. The gift is the largest in the university’s history.

The $20 million athletic complex will include a National Hockey League-size ice hockey rink with 900 seats; a basketball court with 1,200 seats; a fitness center; and multi-purpose practice courts with a combined seating capacity of 3,000. The 105,000-square-foot building also will include classrooms, offices and conference rooms.

University President Danielle Ripich said the announcement was a proud moment for the university. The complex will allow the university to host large events such as performances and championships, she said.

“This gift is truly transformative in the life of the University of New England,” Ripich said. “I predict this complex will become the center and heart of all activities here at the university.”

The announcement was made in the Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences, which Ripich said was made possible by a $2.5 million gift from the foundation in 1995.

“Harold made many gifts to higher education,” Powell said. “There were none he was more proud of than the 1995 gift to the University of New England.”

Powell said the $10 million total commitment includes a challenge grant. When the university successfully matches $7 million from the foundation with other donations and fundraising, the foundation will give an additional $3 million for health care work force education.

Founded in 1950, the Harold Alfond Foundation has awarded matching challenge grants to schools across the state. Alfond worked at the Kesslen Shoe Co. in Kennebunk before founding the Dexter Show Co. In addition to large donations to schools, he established the Harold Alfond College Challenge program that offers a $500 college scholarship to every baby born in Maine. Alfond died in 2007.

Powell said the foundation’s gift represents Alfond’s understanding of the “positive relationship between athletics and academics.” Alfond was inspired by the university’s mission to education health care professionals in Maine, he said.

Ripich said the $3 million gift will allow the university “to prepare health professionals who can deliver integrated care in the 21^st century and work toward establishing collaborative clinical practice sites.”

The university will break ground on the building this spring and expects construction will be completed in 2012, Ripich said. The facility will be located across Route 9 from the main section of campus, between the university’s new Sokokis Hall and blue turf field. The athletic complex is part of the university’s 5-year master plan.

“Our life on this campus will be forever changed by this building,” Ripich said. “It’s very dramatic. It’s going to make a difference to the institution. It will bring people to our campus who would never see the university.”

Ripich said 80 percent of students participate in varsity or intramural athletics and thousands more attend games. The complex will allow the university to grow its hockey program to include women, she said.

During the announcement, students, faculty and trustees cheered when a video flyover of architect’s renderings of the building played on two large screens. Renderings show a modern facility with outdoor seating surrounded by trees.

Mike Roper, a senior hockey player from Nova Scotia, said the complex will make the hockey program more attractive to prospective players and help with recruitment. The team currently plays at the Biddeford Ice Arena, a 15-minute drive from campus.

“It’s unreal. It’s going to help every aspect of our school,” Roper said. “You could just see smiles everywhere.”