Work begins on Feb. 24 for an extensive renovation of the lower level of P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium in the next $3 million phase of Central College’s Forever Dutch initiative. The lower-level renovation includes construction of a women’s varsity locker room with a team meeting room, a transformed athletic training room that will provide more treatment space and an expanded athletics equipment room. Work is expected to be completed in early August, prior to the arrival of fall sports teams. The area will be closed from May 25 to Aug. 3 and the college’s racquetball courts will close later this month. Other parts of the building may be inaccessible at times during the renovation. The renovation was timed to launch after the completion of the men’s and women’s basketball seasons to minimize disruption, athletics director Eric Van Kley said. More than $15 million has been raised for the ongoing Forever Dutch initiative, which includes the 2017 $12 million building expansion. The expansion features a prominent new building entrance with the M. Joan Kuyper Farver Atrium and expanded Pacha Family Lobby, state-of-the-art locker room, wrestling center, Chip Griffith Student Lounge, Don and Diana Vogel Athletics Hall of Honor, Dave and Ardie Sutphen golf/baseball/softball hitting center and major infrastructure improvements. Fund-raising is continuing for the next $3 million phase, a renovation of the 51-year-old building’s upper level. That will feature team meeting space, a new welcome center, recruitment space, offices and visitor locker room. Contributions can be made via forever.central.edu.