Photo provided A groundbreaking was held Friday for renovation of the Elwood Fitness Center at Franklin College.
FRANKLIN – Franklin College’s historic Elwood Fitness Center officially began its next chapter on Friday with a ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the start of a $9.5 million renovation and restoration project that will update the campus facility.
The ceremony featured remarks from Franklin College President Kerry N. Prather, Franklin College Board Chair and 1980 alumnus Pete Cangany, City of Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett, and multiple key donors who have made the renovation possible. Attendance at the event included Rep. Jefferson Shreve, R-Indiana, as well as many alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students and community members.
The renovation project, expected to be completed in early 2027, will restore the building’s historic façade while transforming the interior into a modern, multifunctional facility for students. It will include spaces for personal fitness activities, recreational and intramural sports, and athletic offices, locker rooms and support services for the football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s lacrosse teams.
Originally constructed in the early 1900s and expanded in the 1920s, the Elwood Fitness Center was once a central hub for campus athletics and student life. It famously hosted the Franklin Wonder Five basketball team, which won the national championship in 1923 and brought widespread recognition to the college. In 2020, a state historical marker was installed outside the facility — one of only a handful in Johnson County — commemorating the team’s legacy. In January, a portion of campus, including the Elwood Fitness Center, was designated as a National Register Historic District by the National Park Service. The 19,425-square-foot building historically housed a pool, athletic offices and the entire physical education department until the opening of Spurlock Center in 1975.
“Today, we celebrate both our history and our future as we break ground on the restoration and renovation of one of the most iconic landmarks on our campus — the Elwood Fitness Center,” Prather said. “This groundbreaking marks the official beginning of a $9.5 million project that will restore, reimagine and revitalize a facility that has been part of Franklin’s story for more than a century. For generations, this building has been a gathering place for competition, camaraderie and community. Soon, it will once again serve as a vibrant hub of activity, supporting recreation, wellness and athletic excellence for our students. I have said often that this is the most unique project underway on any college campus, and it is something for all of us to be very proud to celebrate.”
Four generous families have played a pivotal role in launching the project. Franklin College Trustee Amber (Robbins) Elwood ’99 and her husband, John, of Columbus, served as lead donors, with their gift renaming the facility the Elwood Fitness Center. Roger and Jan Johnson of Scottsdale, Arizona, provided a gift naming the basketball floor on the main level the “Wonder Five Court.” Trustee Jim Napolitan (HD ’12), Ph.D., and his wife Sandy (Mock) Napolitan ’60, Ph.D., provided funding to name the lower level of the facility the Drs. James and Sandra Napolitan Athletic Complex. Jerry ’67 and Faye Petro of Franklin provided a gift naming the Jerry ’67 and Faye Petro Aerobic Fitness Area.
The ceremony also marked the beginning of the public phase of the College’s $9.5 million project to reimagine the historic facility. To date, over $7 million has been raised toward the goal.
