A groundbreaking eight years in the making occurred yesterday as representatives from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire city, Mayo Health Clinic and others all spoke in the empty lot that will soon house a recreation facility estimated to cost around 107 million dollars.

The Sonnentag Complex broke ground to start construction on Monday, April 25 at 11:30 A.M. The complex includes the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse and Event Center, the Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Clinic and a SpringHill Suites by Marriott. 

Just down the street from Roadside Diner on Menomonie Street, the “communiversity” of Eau Claire, a phrase coined by James Schmidt, the chancellor of UW-Eau Claire, met to commence the construction of the complex as well as to give thanks to several figures involved.