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Barnett Center
General Information: Built in 1986, the Joseph H. Barnett Center is host to a wide variety of activities, including NSU men's and women's basketball games, wrestling meets, volleyball matches, and indoor track and field meets. In addition to athletic events the BC hosts NSU Spring Commencement Ceremonies, local middle school and high school events, the annual Aberdeen Corporate Cup, and countless NSU Athletic clinics and camps. The Barnett Center was dedicated on October 4, 1986 during the annual Gypsy Days celebration. The first event was later played on October 23, 1987 as the NSU volleyball team took on Jamestown College falling 3-1 in the match.
The facility includes Wachs Arena and the upper level auxiliary gym, the NSU Athletic Department offices, classroom space for the School of Education HPER Department, state of the art locker rooms, the Royal Order of the Gyps Team Room, the Kretchman Hall of Fame Room, a 25-yard pool, the NSU Team Apparel Store, wrestling room, and the Bob Olson Strength and Conditioning Center. With the construction of the Regional Sports Complex in 2021, the Barnett Center gained the Kesslers Champions Club Room, Northern State football locker room and football coaching offices, and the pedastrian bridge connecting both facilities.Â
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Renovations: In August 2012, NSU formally opened a 26,000 square-foot addition to the Barnett Center. The new addition includes expanded weight room and fitness center facilities on the second level, with men's and women's basketball locker rooms and coaches offices on the ground floor along with one of the largest wrestling rooms in the NSIC. All money for the expansion was privately raised, taking nearly five years to complete from start to finish. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place September of that year. The project that was originally intended to be a locker room upgrade for men’s and women’s basketball, grew to a privately funded $3.2 million project to include locker rooms, offices, a wrestling room and an upgraded and expanded weight room. The 26,411 square-foot expansion, gave NSU athletics the ability to expand the NSU weight room from 2,200 square-feet facility to a 10,000 square-feet facility encompassing the entire second floor of the addition.
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Following the large renovation in 2012, the NSU Team Store was added to the lower level main hallway area in 2013. The Team Store features authentic Northern State Nike apparel in men’s, women’s, and youth sizes. The store is open through the year from 11 am – 1 pm and 5-7 pm Monday thru Friday and prior to all home sporting events in the facility. The Team Store also received an updated online forum in January of 2017 with full inventory that can be shipped directly to you!
The Northern State Volleyball locker room received a face-lift in 2014 with the addition of custom lockers, a television, and team hangout area.
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In the summer of 2016, the Barnett Center saw some cosmetic updates throughout the main and auxiliary hallways. New Hall of Fame and All-American boards were added to the main hallway area featuring names of all honorees as well as photos highlighting student-athletes from throughout the years. The auxiliary hallways between the arena and locker rooms and in the lower level of the addition received large acrylic prints from notable moments, student-athletes, and teams throughout the years. Finally the trophy cases at the south end of the main hallway were updated with new lighting, background pictures, and information acrylics with team and individual championships for all 15 intercollegiate athletic programs.
Basketball Offices and Locker Rooms:
Hall of Fame & Royal Order of the Gyps Team Rooms: Â
Volleyball Locker Room: Â
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Driving Directions:
From HWY 281 South - Turn east onto Melgaard Road, then north onto S Lloyd Street. Turn east onto 17th Ave. SE and continue north to State Street. The Barnett Center is located at the intersection of State and 15th Ave. SE. Parking is available on the north side of the building.
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From HWY 281 North - Turn east onto 6th Ave. (Hwy 12). Turn south onto State Street. The Barnett Center is located on the west side of the street just before the intersection of State and 15th Ave. SE. Parking is available on the north side of the building.
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From HWY 12 East and West - Turn south onto State Street. The Barnett Center is located on the west side of the street just before the intersection of State and 15th Ave. SE. Parking is available on the north side of the building.
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