July 29, 1999

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Officials from Florida State University and the Ajax Building Corporation held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the FSU football locker room renovation and expansion.

"This is something that we were in dire need of," said Seminole director of athletics Dave Hart. "I want everything that our student-athletes come in contact with on a day-to-day basis to be first class and this locker room certainly is now."

The new facility nearly doubles the old one in square footage and features new wood lockers, new lighting and meeting space where the coaching staff can address the entire team. It was orginally pegged as a 12-month project but was completed in 4 1/2 months. Florida State opens practice for its 1999 football season next week.

The second phase of the project will begin immediately after this football season and will include the renovation of the locker room's shower area, equipment rooms and the coaches' locker room. The second phase should be complete during the summer of 2000.