Hagee Communication Center update: August 14, 2012

Waxahachie, Texas – August 14, 2012 – Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) broke ground on its Hagee Communication Center (HCC) on Friday, April 27, 2012. Since then, 3i Construction has relocated major utility feeds, finalized design and engineering for the footings, floor and structural steel, and drilled foundation piers.

Jay Trewern, Vice President for Business and Finance says, "The highly visible portions of construction, such as the steel going up, will likely happen in September."

Additionally, 3i is running storm drain and sanitary sewer lines across campus to the Sycamore Street/ Highland Street intersection. Current landscape plans include two foundations, several benches and antique style fixtures, and plenty of trees and shrubs. SAGU is also completing design work on the staging systems, stage lighting, security systems, building controls and the Einstein's Bagels layout.

Ryan McElhany, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, indicates that photos will periodically be posted to the SAGU website, Facebook and Twitter (@sagu) throughout the construction process.

State Representatives Gary Elkins and Jim Pitts, Waxahachie City Manager Paul Stevens, and alumnus Dr. John Hagee attended the groundbreaking in April. President Bridges announced to those in attendance, "We received another $2 million gift, putting us within $1 million of our $21 million dollar goal."

The HCC is the most expensive initiative SAGU has undertaken to date. In the last ten years enrollment has increased 16 percent. Growth in the communication arts led to the need for the Hagee Communication Center. The 79,000-square-foot project will be the second-largest building on campus and is expected to be completed in Fall 2013.

The facility will house a performance arts auditorium, black box theater, TV and film studio, audio recording studio, digital video editing lab and suites, piano lab, music library and listening lab, music practice rooms, classrooms, rehearsal halls, film screening/preaching and speech labs, offices, concessions, café, workshops, dressing rooms and more.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 60 associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.