UMaine Machias reopens its newly renovated Reynolds Gymnasium

MACHIAS, Maine – The University of Maine at Machias celebrated the completion of the long-awaited renovation of Reynolds Gymnasium, as students, regional and state leaders and guests took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony today and facility dedications.

The extensive renovations include a brand new, NCAA-compliant hardwood floor, modernized bleachers with computerized mechanisms, upgraded scoreboards, a new sound system and various other enhancements to support both student and community events.

The renovation project, which began in fall 2024, replaced the 55-year-old gym flooring and bleachers. Like many other campus facilities and resources, the gym, the adjacent Murdock Fitness and Aquatics Center, and other facilities within the Reynolds Athletics Center are widely used by groups and individuals of all ages, as well as by the university’s students, faculty and staff. Machias Memorial High School, Washington Academy and Machias Valley Christian School often use the gym, which also serves as a venue for Special Olympics practices, local AAU basketball events, craft fairs, benefit tournaments and career resource fairs.

“This project represents more than just a new floor and bleachers – it represents a revitalized space for our students, faculty, staff and the wider Downeast community,” said Megan Walsh, UMaine Machias’ dean and campus director. “We are excited to provide a modern, well-appointed facility to support student clubs and organizations and Reynolds and Murdock Center members, as well as the many K-12 student groups we host throughout the year. 

“The Reynolds Gym is one of our campus’s most beloved spaces, and we are thrilled to make it even more accessible and versatile for the future,” Walsh added.

“The University of Maine at Machias is more than just a place of learning. It is a place of belonging,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of Maine and its regional campus in Machias. “It’s a place where people come together to grow, to challenge themselves and to support one another. 

“This gym is a reflection of that spirit,” Ferrin-Mundy noted. “It is a space where our students will push themselves to new heights, where our community will gather in celebration, and where we will continue to foster the values of perseverance, teamwork and excellence.”

“Machias Memorial High School students have been eagerly waiting for the UMM gym to reopen,” shared Nicole Case, a UMaine Machias alumna, principal of Machias Memorial High School and the incoming superintendent of schools for AOS 96. “For youth in our community, the Reynolds Center plays a central role in their lives, providing an opportunity for physical and social well-being.”  

The total cost of the Reynolds Gym project was $729,000. The renovations were made possible through a general obligation bond approved by Maine’s legislature and voters in 2018 and dedicated to funding infrastructure improvements across the University of Maine System (UMS). In addition, UMaine Machias professors emeriti Richard and Elsie Larson generously donated to the Reynolds Center Improvement Fund, which is dedicated to helping cover the cost of maintenance and capital improvements for the building.

As part of Friday’s ceremonies, Ferrini-Mundy announced that a conference room in the Reynolds Center has been named in honor of the Larsons, who were present for the event.

“[The Larsons] have shown incredible generosity and dedication to this university and the town,” Ferrini-Mundy said. “Their support made this remodel possible, and their commitment to strengthening both our campus and our community will be felt for years to come.

“The Richard and Elsie Larson Conference Room will serve as a place for collaboration, learning and connection, just as Richard and Elsie have inspired throughout their careers,” she added.

“We are unbelievably impressed with what is happening on campus, because so many people are working together,” Richard Larson said in response to the announcement. “The Reynolds Center Gym is so much more than a basketball court. It is important for the UMM students and the community because of things like the graduations, craft shows, music events and community gatherings. We couldn’t be happier with the new floor, the acoustics, the air handlers, the lighting and the public address system. If it hadn’t been for the University of Maine, this never would have come about for UMM.”

The Reynolds Center is named after Frederic A. Reynolds, who served as president of UMaine Machias from 1981 to 1992. Originally named the Health and Physical Education Building, it was renamed in his honor following his retirement. The building is also home to the UMaine Machias Bachelor of Arts program in outdoor recreation and leadership, which will continue to utilize the renovated gym for student classes and activities.