When Lowell Dixon ’65 was a student at Knox, he often would walk past Auxiliary Gymnasium, or “Aux Gym”  as it is affectionately known, on his way across campus from his room in Conger Hall. One thing he always noticed was that Aux Gym wasn’t as busy as other campus facilities. “It’s unfortunate that a solid building in an important part of campus was underutilized,” he shared.

A little more than a year ago, Dixon had  the opportunity to speak with President C. Andrew McGadney about the College’s vision for a renewed Aux Gym, and Dixon found an opportunity to, as he said, “see it become vital again.”

Thanks to ongoing maintenance, the structural integrity of Aux Gym’s foundational envelope remained sound, providing Knox with the opportunity to reimagine its third oldest building as a fully accessible campus welcome center. The College plans for Aux Gym to become a “front door” to Knox and Galesburg for prospective students and their loved ones and to provide much needed multi-purpose space for the College community. The main floor will house the Office of Admission, and remaining space in the building would be office, meeting, classroom, and study spaces to serve the entire Knox community.  

Reimagining Aux Gym as a vibrant welcome center at the heart of campus also allows the College to bring a truly comprehensive approach to enriching the student experience to life, as outlined in Our Strategy: A Bold & Ambitious Framework for Growth, approved by the Board in 2022. A renewed Aux Gym—and new home for the Office of Admission—opens the possibility to create a student-centered, one-stop shop for all student services in Alumni Hall, focused on preparing our students for postgraduate success.

After the conversation with President McGadney, Lowell and his wife Mariclaire decided they wanted to help make this new campus welcome center a reality, generously donating $2 million to jumpstart the project. “The building is fundamentally sound, which is great, and its location on campus makes it important to the College,” said Dixon. 

“Ensuring that Knox remains guided by its mission and history to provide opportunities for ambitious, smart, and innovative students from Illinois and beyond is what energizes and guides my work and that of our Board, staff, and faculty every day,” said President McGadney. “I am truly grateful to Lowell and Mariclaire for believing in and supporting this vital work.”

For many members of the Knox community, it’s hard to imagine that Aux Gym was once a vibrant home for Knox athletics and a beautiful example of Galesburg’s historic architecture. Thanks to a multi-million dollar gift from the Dixons, a new life for this historic campus building is on the horizon.

Designed by Galesburg architect J. Grant Beadle and built by contractor J.A. Ream, Aux Gym was completed and dedicated on February 14, 1908. Flanked by Willard Field (now the South Lawn of Old Main), the building was used by both men’s and women’s athletic teams. In 1951, with the construction of Memorial Gymnasium on the southwest side of campus, the gymnasium was “redecorated” for women and was referred to as the “Women’s Gym” for many years. The “redecoration” also included an official indoor archery range, which Knox’s 1956, 1957, and 1958 National Championship-winning Women’s Archery teams used. As time passed, the women’s  athletic teams and training joined the men’s teams in Memorial Gymnasium. 

In 1979, when the neighboring Alumni Hall was closed due to its deteriorating condition, the College’s chapel was moved from Alumni Hall to Aux Gym. In the late 20th and early 21st century, the building became home to several academic and co-curricular programs, including fine arts, dance, and intramural athletics. Today, Aux Gym has sat vacant for approximately a decade following the long-awaited renovation of Alumni Hall, the purchase and renovation of the Second Baptist Church into the HOPE (House of Peace and Equity) Center, and construction of the new Whitcomb Art Center.

The Dixon’s generous donation has inspired other gifts to make the plan to renew Aux Gym a reality. Like Old Main, Seymour Library, George Davis Hall, and Alumni Hall before it, a reimagined Auxiliary Gymnasium will showcase Knox’s dedication to preserving and honoring its past while providing modern, accessible, and vibrant facilities for current and future Knox students.

“Preserving historic buildings like Aux Gym is essential for our campus, the City of Galesburg with which we share a deep and interconnected relationship, Knox County, and the State of Illinois,” shared President McGadney. “As we double-down on our mission—creating a community of individuals from diverse  backgrounds challenging each other to  explore, understand, and improve ourselves, our society, and our world—we know that  providing modern and accessible facilities while also preserving and celebrating our history is invaluable.”

Honoring the Class of 1965

At the Dixon’s request, the Class of 1965 will receive prominent recognition in the repurposed building. President McGadney worked with the Dixons to make sure their wish was honored. “Andy made the agreement that the Class of 1965 will be  recognized in the Admissions area, and I’m excited about it,” said Dixon. Thanks to his efforts, the Class of 1965 Reception area soon will greet all visitors to the Knox campus.