Louisiana College recently celebrated the opening of its newest
campus facility – the James and Mary Baker Health and Wellness Center.
Louisiana College recently celebrated the opening of its newest
campus facility – the James and Mary Baker Health and Wellness Center.
The $8.5 million facility is named for the Bakers, prominent
business and community leaders who are long-time supporters of the college and
who made a sizable contribution toward building the center.
The Bakers are members at First Baptist Church of Pineville.
He also is a former trustee chair for the Louisiana College board.
“It is through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Baker that
this facility came into existence,” Louisiana College President Rory Lee
emphasized during dedication ceremonies on the final day of March.
“Jim and Mary Baker have made many significant contributions
in years past,” Lee continued. “This (center), like many of their
previous efforts, will make life better for those in Central Louisiana.
“In addition to convenient health care, the Baker Center
will provide fitness and educational opportunities for students and the community
alike.”
The Baker Center is comprised of two components – health
care and fitness.
A 23,000-square-foot health care portion – the Christus
Cabrini Healthplex – will include physicians offices, as well as clinical
and educational space. The staff of the healthplex portion will focus on health
improvements through education, emphasizing disease prevention and health promotion.
The center also includes a 33,000-square-foot fitness facility
to be known as the Louisiana Athletic Club. The club includes a four-lane lap
swimming pool, a pool for therapy and exercise classes, a gymnasium, areas for
free weights and stationary exercise equipment, an aerobic studio, a walking
track and a child care area.
The college and Christus Cabrini Hospital have entered a 20-year
agreement in which Cabrini will lease the healthplex space and operate the fitness
facility along with the school. However, Cabrini does not own any part of the
center. It belongs solely to Louisiana College.
In addition, lease payments by Cabrini will provide funds for
repayment of the construction debt, college leaders explain. Plans are for the
center to be paid for by the end of the 20-year agreement between Cabrini and
the school. By that point, it already will have begun generating income for
the Louisiana Baptist school.
“Collaboration with Louisiana College on this project
is a perfect fit for Cabrini Hospital,” said Stephen Wright, president
and chief operating officer of the hospital.
“While an integral part of the Christus Health vision
is to make significant contributions to creating healthier communities, Louisiana
College had a desire to create a health and wellness facility for its students
and community. By working together as partners, we are able to strengthen our
commitments to those we serve. …
“Both the hospital governing board and the Louisiana College
board of trustees agree that this project will further our Christian missions,”
Wright concluded.
College leaders agree, emphasizing their desire to provide
a facility that will help prepare students mentally, physically and spiritually
for life.
“The strength of these two Central Louisiana institutions,
coupled with the generosity of Jim and Mary Baker, provides a synergy that will
create exceptional health, wellness and educational opportunities for this dynamic
community for many years to come,” Lee explained.
(For more information about the center and membership information,
persons may call (318) 487-1000.