McLean County Times

The Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University marks its 30th anniversary, commemorating three decades of service to Titan athletics and the Bloomington community. Established in 1994, the facility owes its existence to a $5 million donation from the Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation of Bloomington. Russell Shirk was an alumnus from the Class of 1943.

A ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, January 11, during halftime of the men's basketball game against North Central at the Shirk Center. The women's team will also face North Central earlier that day. A private reception will follow these events.

"For three decades, the Shirk Center has supported Titan athletes with state-of-the-art resources to train, compete and excel," said President Sheahon Zenger. "The doors have also opened to countless members of the Bloomington-Normal community."

The center serves as a venue for varsity sports and offers fitness facilities for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. It hosts more than 100 community events annually and has been used for six NCAA Division III national championship tournaments.

"Since the Shirk Center opened its doors, the student-athlete population at Illinois Wesleyan has nearly doubled from 322 to 625," noted IWU Athletic Director Mike Wagner.

Spanning two levels and covering 135,344 square feet, the complex includes an arena seating up to 2,680 spectators for indoor sports events. It features multi-use courts for various sports activities along with a training room and wellness center.

In 2016, another significant contribution from the Shirk family facilitated an expansion on the building's east side. This development enhanced fitness facilities and provided additional space for athletic use.