October 21, 2025
Construction will soon begin on a new basketball practice facility on St. John’s University’s Queens, NY, campus serving as the first step in the renovation and modernization of student recreational resources.
The new basketball facility is part of a larger effort to enhance campus recreational resources, which will also include the renovation of Taffner Field House, transforming the 20-year-old structure into a vibrant recreational and wellness space for all students.
An October 18 groundbreaking ceremony featured remarks from members of University leadership, including Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John’s and Chair of the BIG EAST Conference Board of Directors. Joining Fr. Shanley in remarks were William J. Janetschek ’84CBA, ’17HON, Chair of the St. John’s Board of Trustees and retired Partner and Chief Financial Officer, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.; and St. John’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joseph E. Oliva ’91CBA, ’94L.
“This is the crowning piece of building up Men’s and Women’s Basketball at St. John’s,” Fr. Shanley said. “I am deeply grateful for all who supported this. But this is not just about basketball; this is about the success of our University, and it is an important and pivotal moment for us.”
The new practice facility, located adjacent to Gate 4—near 175th Street and Union Turnpike—will serve as a training location for the Red Storm Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs. The facility will include multiple practice courts, strength and conditioning areas, hydrotherapy pools, team lounges, and video review rooms.
Construction of the practice facility is scheduled to begin in two weeks, according to Mr. Oliva. The Taffner renovation will begin once the practice facility is completed. The practice facility is expected to be ready by Spring 2027, while the campus recreation center is scheduled to open in Fall 2028.
“This is the beginning of a two-step process,” Mr. Oliva explained to a gathering of St. John’s alumni, supporters, and members of the media on hand for the groundbreaking. “We expect to have a facility with all the best of what we need to support the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. As soon as that is completed, we will start the renovation of Taffner Field House as a recreational space for our students—to ensure that we can serve them also with a state-of-the-art facility.”
The groundbreaking included the ceremonial first shovels by a panel of University officials, Athletics Department staff, and coaches Rick Pitino—who led the men’s team to a 31–5 record and a BIG EAST championship in 2024–25; and Joe Tartamella, who has taken the women’s team to four National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments in 13 years as coach.
The Red Storm Men’s team is ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll—its highest preseason ranking in program history—and begins its season November 3 against Quinnipiac University at Carnesecca Arena. The Women’s team begins its season earlier on November 3 against LeMoyne College, also at Carnesecca.
University officials emphasized that the construction efforts extended beyond the basketball programs. Upgrades to Taffner Field House will benefit all students, they said.
Construction of the 50,000-square-foot basketball facility is being led by Axis Construction Corporation, based in Hauppauge, NY. The University also contracted with San Francisco, CA-based Gensler, a global architecture and planning firm, for design of both the practice facility and the campus recreation center.
Representatives from both organizations were on hand at the groundbreaking.
Fundraising for the basketball facility began with a historic gift of $32.5 million from Mr. Janetschek, whose donation, announced in May, is the largest single financial commitment in St. John’s 155-year history. The donation directs approximately $25 million toward the construction of the practice facility and $7.5 million toward student scholarships.
Generous benefactors, the Riley Family, donated a $5 million leadership gift toward the project.
Three additional seven-figure commitments have been secured for the project.
Additionally, St. John’s was awarded a $3 million New York State Higher Education Capital Matching Grant (HECap) to help finance construction. Other gifts include $2 million from the Sallie Wang Revocable Trust, with the Men’s Basketball team lounge to be named Chin Ying Lounge.
Fundraising for this capital project and other University-wide initiatives, scholarships, and programs will continue as part of St. John’s Hearts on Fire campaign launched in May. Thus far, $286 million has been raised in a $400 million campaign to elevate St. John’s through access and opportunity, academic excellence, and strategic campus investments.
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