McPhail Boathouse opened in October of 2016 and is the home of the RMU rowing program.
The boathouse is named in honor of former head coach Midge McPhail, who passed away in September of 2015 after a battle with lung disease caused by complications of Sjögren's Syndrome. She served as RMU's head rowing coach from 2006 to 2015.
McPhail's daughter, Jada, officially opened the boathouse by cutting the ribbon as part of the ceremony. She was joined by her father, Jimmie Burks, members of the McPhail family, members of the RMU department of athletics, RMU rowing alumni and current student-athletes.
RMU worked with Neville Township, Pa., to develop an attractive building design that compliments the entrance to the township coming across the Coraopolis Bridge and provides an added feature to the RMU Island Sports Center. RBA Architects provided the design of the facility, HF Lenze served as the civil engineer responsible for site development and landscape design and Tedco built the complex.
The McPhail Boathouse provides improvements and enhancements for RMU rowing, produces a sustainable home for the program and its student-athletes as well as enhancing recruiting capabilities. Included in the boathouse is an improved access path and dock that allows student-athletes to effectively transport boats to the water and back. The access path runs through the Paradise Lanes property, with the Saunier family providing a model partner.
