DiSanto family commits $5.9 million to renovate Adelbert Gym at Case Western Reserve University
Newly named DiSanto Arena will become primary home for men’s and women’s varsity basketball
Adelbert Gym, one of Case Western Reserve University’s most historic buildings, will soon undergo a transformative renovation, made possible in part by a $5.9 million commitment from alumnus and trustee Fred DiSanto (WRC '85, MGT '86), his wife, Brittan, and their son and daughter-in-law, TJ and Lia DiSanto. In recognition of their generosity, the renovated space will be renamed DiSanto Arena.
The gift will help advance the university’s vision for a revitalized facility that will preserve the character of Adelbert Gym while elevating it to meet the needs of today’s students, varsity athletics and community programming. When it re-opens in the spring of 2027, DiSanto Arena will incorporate over 6,000 square feet of expansions and renovations to the concourse, court and mezzanine levels—including new locker rooms for men’s and women’s basketball, a new “Spartan Gallery” social space, and an expansion of the building’s footprint for a new lobby and entry tower.
“Fred and his family have been extraordinarily loyal and generous supporters of Case Western Reserve University. Their gifts have been transformative in so many areas—student scholarships, athletics, and support for the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, among others,” said Case Western Reserve University President Eric W. Kaler. “The Adelbert Gym project certainly has special meaning for Fred as an alumnus and a former Spartan athlete. We look forward to the opening of DiSanto Arena as a modernized space for students and for the community, and as one of the premier NCAA Division III facilities in the country.”
Opened in 1888 and expanded in 1918, Adelbert Gym is among the oldest buildings still in active use on campus and has served generations of Case Western Reserve University as a hub for physical activity and events. DiSanto Arena will continue that legacy while offering an upgraded, high-quality experience consistent with the university’s academic and institutional excellence.
“For a university like Case Western Reserve—now recognized [by TIME magazine] among the top institutions in the world—everything we do should be the best,” DiSanto said. “Every facility should be top-notch. This project reflects that commitment.”
DiSanto’s relationship with Case Western Reserve began as a student-athlete whose experience on campus shaped his life and leadership. A native of Cleveland, he chose to attend CWRU to remain close to family and after being recruited by legendary coach Bill Sudeck, whose emphasis on academics and character left a lasting impression.
As a student, DiSanto distinguished himself as one of the most accomplished athletes in university history, earning an unparalleled 12 varsity letters across football, basketball and baseball. In 1996, he was inducted into the Case Western Reserve University Athletics Hall of Fame.
“At the time, I wasn’t thinking about accomplishments,” DiSanto said. “Being involved was just a way of life. It kept me focused, taught me time management, and reinforced what it meant to be part of a team.”
Those lessons—discipline, teamwork and shared purpose—have guided DiSanto throughout his career and decades of service to the university. He currently serves as a trustee and previously chaired the Board of Trustees, helping guide the institution through pivotal moments of growth and transformation.
Although varsity teams competed elsewhere during his time on campus, Adelbert Gym played an important role in DiSanto’s student experience as a practice and community space—an “old-school” gym with a distinct character.
“It was just really cool,” he recalled. “And when you think about what President Kaler is doing with the university, and what Adelbert can become, you can imagine how special this facility will be.”
DiSanto hopes that when students first walk into DiSanto Arena, they experience a sense of excitement and possibility.
“I hope it has the ‘wow factor,’” he said.
The Adelbert Gym gift—which includes a $5 million lead gift and an additional gift of $900,000 to reach the university’s fundraising goal for the project—follows another recent significant investment by Fred DiSanto and his wife, Brittan DiSanto, who recently committed $7 million to support the university’s Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building. Together, the gifts reflect a deeply held family value around philanthropy and responsibility.
“This is a family gift,” DiSanto emphasized. “We believe strongly in giving back to the organizations that shaped our lives and that have an impact on the community.”
DiSanto credits his parents—and Brittan’s—as models for that ethos, one he hopes future generations of students will come to understand.
“As a student, you don’t always realize the impact a university can have on you,” he said. “It’s more than grades. It’s about embracing what the university is—and then carrying that forward as an alumnus.”
DiSanto expressed strong optimism about Case Western Reserve’s future, pointing to university leadership, research strength, community engagement and global reach.
“When you have the right people in the right seats, that breeds success,” he said. “And that’s what we’re seeing today.”
With the transformation of Adelbert Gym into DiSanto Arena, the DiSanto family’s latest gift ensures that future generations of students will benefit from a space that fosters wellness, connection and community—while honoring a legacy deeply intertwined with the university’s two-century history.
