Arizona Athletics is working on conceptual designs this week to expand practice centers for the basketball, gymnastics and swimming and diving programs.

Steve Kozachik, assistant director of athletics, facilities and event operations, said the project is still in the design phase.

“”We’re trying to sort through some design and budget issues,”” Kozachik said. “”The model of the construction won’t be done until next week.””

The construction of the facilities will cost about $17 million, Kozachik said.

The endeavor will expand the gymnastics

practice area 30 feet to the east of its current facility and add a new diving well north of the existing well to make room for future expansion of the pool at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, which will not be a part of the upcoming project, Kozachik said.

The new basketball/volleyball practice area is still up in the air design-wise but will be built north of the gymnastics complex.

“”Not a whole lot of decisions have been made yet,”” Kozachik said. “”Next week we’ll at least have more solid decisions about the basketball aspect.””

Even though the basketball practice area will expand north toward University Boulevard, Kozachik said it will not infringe on any other activities.

“”Our goal is to make sure that all of the users of the area are taken into consideration,”” Kozachik said.

More details on the McKale expansion will be released next week.

Melissa Dryden, senior program coordinator for facilities design, said the renovation of the facilities is necessary because of changing NCAA requirements.

“”The standards have changed for the length of the runway for gymnastics, and swimming requirements have changed as well,”” Dryden said.

Dryden also said that the flow of campus traffic will not be infringed upon.

“”It will take approximately 12 to 13 months of construction for the entire project,”” Dryden said. “”We built the Eddie Lynch Pavilion and the weight training facility in the past, and we’ve worked to minimize construction impact.””