UB breaks ground on Brittany Murchie Mulla Sports Performance Center

As part of their long-standing support of UB, the Murchie family joined UB staff on June 30 to break ground for the Brittany Murchie Mulla Sports Performance Center. Scheduled to open in 2024, the 12,000-square-foot multilevel facility will serve UB’s varsity teams.

“As we break ground on the center, we look forward to the opportunities it will create for UB’s student-athletes,” President Satish K. Tripathi said in opening remarks. “This center represents a significant enhancement to our athletics facilities — and therefore the overall experience of our student-athletes. We’ve been intentionally cultivating a nationally competitive athletics program. The center builds on our successes in this regard and positions us for even greater success.” 

The Brittany Murchie Mulla Sports Performance Center will be connected to the west end of the Murchie Family Fieldhouse on the North Campus. Mulla is the daughter of UB alumni Tunney and Deanna Murchie. 

“First and foremost, I want to thank the Murchie family for this transformational gift,” said Mark Alnutt, vice president and director of athletics. “Tunney, this is something that we discussed on my first day of the job and it is very exciting for this to come to fruition. You and your family understand the vision that we have here to be the best Group of Five athletic department in the nation and the resources needed to be able to compete at that level. Your family is making the difference for our coaches, our student-athletes and how we approach our students.

“This facility is a tremendous upgrade over our existing facility and with the connection to the Murchie Family Fieldhouse, it allows our student-athletes the flexibility of working under one roof,” Alnutt said.

Brittany Murchie Mulla is an avid athlete and fitness enthusiast and competitor, who has pursued personal and professional interests that promote the value of lifelong health and wellness. Her extensive professional experience in the fitness industry includes certification as a personal trainer focusing on Pilates and rehabilitative exercise.

The Murchies have made several other donations to UB athletic facilities and programs over the years.

“My family and I are incredibly honored to be back on university grounds for another exciting day,” Mulla said. “I am standing up here today because of the efforts and generosity of my father — man who has taught me strength by example and is my hero, for whom I work to make proud on a daily basis so that I can hopefully, one day, fulfill this great honor he has bestowed upon me.”

The new sports performance center will create a first-class facility that doubles the training space for UB’s student-athletes, creating a state-of-the art environment to enable them to compete at their peak.

“My wish for the future of the performance center is that all who are presented with the opportunity to utilize this facility will be influenced to work and reach their absolute potential,” Mulla said.

“I wish to express my gratitude to UB and my immense appreciation to my father for honoring me in such a special way. I’m so excited about this project and so proud to aligned with the generations of athletes who will make their mark here.”