Wanek Foundation Breaks Ground on Wanek Center in Arcadia

October 12, 2018  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

The School District of Arcadia and greater Arcadia, Wis. community, joined by state and local officials, gathered to celebrate the new center.

The space will allow for a wide variety of wellness and recreational programming for the public; as well as, accommodating the Arcadia School District ’s facility needs for physical education classes, large group activities, and athletic practices or competitions.

“I’m so thankful for this gift from the generous folks at the Wanek Foundation – as I’m sure the people of Arcadia are too,” said Lt. Governor Kleefisch. “The Wanek Center will be an incredible new asset to the area, and I’m excited to see the many ways it will bring the community together in years to come.”

Additional speakers for the Groundbreaking Ceremony included Arcadia Mayor Rob Reichwein; Lance Bagstad, superintendent of Arcadia School District; and RonWanek, founder and chairman, Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.

With a project cost of $17.5 million, more than 1,200 voters in the Arcadia area helped pass a $4 million referendum in April of 2018 to support the creation of the new center. The Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation donated $12 million to the district and the final $1.5 million will come from the School District, City, and additional community donations.

“This is an incredible investment by the Wanek family and The Wanek Foundation,” said  Governor Walker. “Their $12 million investment into our communities shows their strong commitment to our economic and physical health. This generosity will benefit our state, families, and students for years.”

The Wanek Center will provide a two-court gym, boys’ and girls’ locker rooms, additional athletic practice space, weight room and music storage for the school district. The community will have access to a community gym with storage, concessions, indoor run/walk track, fitness center, men’s and women’s locker rooms, exercise studio, community meeting room, adult and youth activity space, and the Arcadia Public Library.

“This facility will benefit students and the community for years to come,” said Lance Bagstad, superintendent of Arcadia School District. “It will be an educational facility, a recreational facility, a learning center, and a gathering place. It will be a center where the community can come together.”

Miron Construction Co., Inc. is serving at the general contractor on the project and HSR Associates is the architect. The school district portion of the Wanek Center is scheduled to be complete by September of 2019 with the remainder of the facility ready to use by the community shortly after that.