The Mount Mercy University athletic department took another leap forward Friday with the Grand Opening of the Rinderknecht Athletic Center.

The transformed warehouse, located at 939 17th Street NE in Cedar Rapids, is a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages for baseball and softball, a golf hitting area and putting greens, a 60-meter sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment, a dynamic movement area for yoga and more.

Renovations to the building include a new HVAC system and new flooring, roof, siding and windows that look onto Mount Mercy's Plaster Athletic Complex that is located across the street. A neighboring facility, formerly the Barry K. Wendt building, houses new administrative offices for the athletic department.

The renovation was made possible through a substantial lead gift from John Rinderknecht, a Mount Mercy trustee and president of Ram Development Company.

"The Rinderknecht Athletic Center is truly a game-changer at Mount Mercy and will make a tremendous impact on the Hill," said Brenda Haefner, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. "We are so grateful to John Rinderknecht for his decades of service to Mount Mercy and his investment in this incredible new facility for our community."

Mount Mercy has more than 2,100 students, with more than 500 of them involved with athletics.