Tansey Refresh a Collaborative Effort
Students, staff, and the President come together to enhance gymnasium area
When Colleen Stackpole walked into the women’s locker room in Tansey Gym, she wasn’t filled with the kind of pride that being a Leopard normally evokes.
“It was a bland and unwelcoming space,” said the Class of 2024 Architecture major.
Stackpole considered the message a drab locker room sent to students—particularly first-year students—and began thinking of ways to improve the area. Currently the chair of the Wentworth Women’s Council, she brainstormed ideas with fellow WWC members Krisilia Hammett and Mishelle Ganbayer.
“Our goal was to help the women athletic teams feel valued as a part of our campus community,” she said.
When the group pitched their idea to President Mark Thompson, he immediately approved it, and a plan was developed with Facilities Manager/Men's Lacrosse Coach Daniel Russo and others to make Tansey improvements for the fall semester.
At the same time, an idea was born to create a colorful, eye-catching mural in the front lobby area that celebrated Wentworth student-athletes. Denis Minevich, Industrial Design ’23, volunteered his time to create the mural.
“I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to leave a permanent mark on Wentworth. Athletics have been a very important part of my four years here and it was special to be able to do a big project of this manner for them,” said Minevich, who played Men’s Tennis.
Content Design Strategist Susanna Quilter met with Stackpole, Minevich, and Russo to discuss the project. And as Minevich crafted the initial mock-ups of the mural, Quilter collaborated with Stackpole to develop wrap designs to refresh the women’s locker room and implement the university’s new branding.
“It was truly an unforgettable experience to be a part of this project from start to finish,” said Stackpole.
Minevich’s mural incorporates dynamic images of student-athletes in action, interspersed with Wentworth’s Leopard mascot, Ruggles. After collaborating with the Marketing and Communications team on graphic elements, appropriate branding, and other details, Minevich had a finished product proudly displayed in the main foyer area of Tansey Gym, reminding all those who enter the space of the university’s strong athletic presence.
“I couldn't be prouder with how it came out and the whole team that helped arranged this,” Minevich said. “I think this will really help make Tansey stand out and the student-athletes will all really enjoy it.”
But there was one more element needed to pull the project together. For years, a regular, solid-colored rug sat in the foyer. Countless visitors walked upon it without ever seeing the Wentworth brand. With that in mind, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications Ted Reed met with Athletics Director Cheryl Aaron and members of her team to discuss new options.
After working again with Quilter, the team developed a new carpet that prominently features the Leopard mark.
While the new improvements serve to benefit all who use the gym, Stackpole is quick to remember that this project started as a way to better recognize the women of Wentworth, and she believes that this is a good step toward doing that.
“I am so grateful to everyone whose hard work made this possible,” she said. “I hope that the female athletes here at Wentworth know just have valued they are.”
