Penn celebrates official ribbon-cutting for new Ott Center
The state-of-the-art indoor track facility is the first of its kind in Philadelphia.
(From left) T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation Alanna Wren; James P. Tuppeny/Betty J. Costanza Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Dolan; Interim President J. Larry Jameson, Rogers Family Associate Head Women's Track & Field Coach Chené Townsend; Associate Head Men's Track & Field Coach Moose Akanno; Wharton alum and donor Jay Alix; College of Arts and Sciences alum and donor Adria Sheth; Wharton alum and donor Jane Ott; and Wharton alum and donor David Ott.
The Penn community celebrated the official ribbon-cutting of the Jane and David Ott Center for Track & Field on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The 73,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art indoor facility—the first of its kind in Philadelphia—is located at 610 River Fields Drive and connected to Hollenback Center. It will help the University continue to attract elite student-athletes and provide a year-round home for Penn’s track & field and cross-country teams.
The facility is made possible by a gift from Jane Ott, a 1987 alumna of the Wharton School, and David Ott, a 1985 Wharton alum. Both are former track athletes. Milestone gifts from Adria Sheth, a 1997 alumna of the College of Arts and Sciences, Brian Sheth, a 1997 Wharton alum, and Jay Alix, a 1977 Wharton alum, complemented the Ott’s lead gift.
(Top row) David Ott (left), a 1985 Wharton alum, and Jane Ott, a 1987 alumna of the Wharton School. (Bottom row) Jay Alix, a 1977 Wharton alum, and Adria Sheth, a 1997 alumna of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Designed by Cannon Design, the Ott Center was constructed to be filled with natural light and features large, clerestory windows that face the Schuylkill River. It can seat more than 1,000 and contains a banked 200-meter running track designed around specific geometric relationships between the straight and curved track sections to produce optimal conditions for running events. It also contains two long jump/triple jump runways, two pole vault runways, an eight-lane infield for sprints, hurdles, and high jump, and a throwing area for the shot put and weight throw. Sean Diminick, the new manager of the Ott Center, will be responsible for its daily management and operation.
Interim President J. Larry Jameson spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where he cited the University’s strategic framework, In Principle and Practice, and said Penn is an anchored university—an institution that’s grounded and propelled by people, communities, and campus.
Jameson recognized the “incredible anchors” who helped bring the project to completion, naming donors Jane and David Ott, Jay Alix, and Adria and Brian Sheth. “Your generosity and vision will make all the difference for our student-athletes as well as support Penn’s partnership with our neighbors and with athletes from around the world,” said Jameson.
“The Ott Center will help Penn Track & Field realize the unique camaraderie of the sport by enabling athletes of all disciplines to gather and train together in the same facility,” noted Jane Ott. “We appreciate the strong program Coach [Steve] Dolan and his staff have built and his dedication to high standards of performance and character.”
David Ott added, “As a former Philadelphia Catholic League track athlete, I hope the Ott Center will inspire Philadelphia high school and youth athletes to pursue track and field, and that they have as rewarding an experience in this great sport as Jane and I have had.”
“This facility is a testament to our leadership donors Jane and Dave Ott, Adria and Brian Sheth, and Jay Alix. We couldn’t have done it without them,” Alanna Wren, the T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation said. “The Ott Center will be life-changing for our student-athletes at Penn and a fabulous asset for the University community and for youth, high school and college track in the region. It is truly incredible.”
The Grand Opening Celebration featured the Inaugural Women’s and Men’s Mile Run and included alumni such as Olympian Nia Akins. For the 2024-25 season, 43 meets are scheduled, including the Penn Relays Winter Showcase presented by Toyota, with more than 100 high school teams set to compete. The season kicks off with Penn’s first home meet, the Penn Opener, on Dec. 6 and 7.
(From left) Interim President J. Larry Jameson, Alanna Wren, and Steve Dolan.
The Ott Center will offer public training memberships with specific days and time blocks for various age levels for adults, college and high school students, and youth beginning Dec. 9.
Adult and collegiate blocks will be weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an early morning block being added in January. Memberships will be sold by team or individual and available at a seasonal rate or daily rate.
Community programming will also be established and hosted at the Ott Center during the year. For more information, visit theottcenter.com.
Runners take to the track, including Olympian Nia Akins (second from left), a 2020 Penn Nursing graduate and decorated Penn women’s cross country and track & field athlete, at the new 73,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art indoor facility.
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