MARQUETTE - Tom Izzo's old basketball court stomping ground is being turned into office space.

Renovations are ongoing to transform the 130,000-square-foot Northern Michigan University's Hedgecock Fieldhouse into a multi-story student service facility, including a 350-seat recital hall, atrium, office space, and an above-ground, enclosed walkway connecting to an existing building.

General contractor Devere Construction and the building trades have been on the $11 million project since April 1, and are wrapping up demolition and raising of the roof over the gym to allow for the construction of a third story.

Constructed in 1956, Hedgecock has slowly been abandoned over the years. A new activities building for hockey and basketball was built a few years ago, which sealed the building's fate.

The basketball team's most famous player was Michigan State University head basketball coach Tom Izzo, who played guard on NMU's hoop squad and was voted the team's MVP as a senior in 1977. He was also named to the Division II All American Third Team that year.

But the basketball court and other facilities in the Hedgecock Fieldhouse are long-gone. "We're gutting the old building to the bare bones," said Devere Project Supt. Keith. "We have about 30 tradespeople working here and they're doing a great job." The project is expected to be completed next summer.

THE OLD NMU Hedgecock Fieldhouse (above) is being renovated through the efforts of Ron Midle of Laborers Local 1329 and fitters Paul Tembreull and Jim Polich of UA Local 506 (below).