Renovations on the Solomon Indoor Track and Cabot Cage were completed and opened to Northeastern athletes Nov. 17, the Athletics Department announced last week.

The renovations centered around replacing Cabot Cage’s hard, rubber surface with a new track surface and turf infield. The construction on the project, which started in late August, was carried out by Turner Construction. Athletics Director Peter Roby said that, although he does not know the specific amount, the project cost in the “hundreds of thousands of dollars.” The money came from the general university budget.

The improvements in the facility will allow outdoor spring teams, such as track and baseball, a place to train during the winter. Roby said he had seen and talked with athletes practicing on the improved surfaces, and that the feedback he had gotten was largely positive.

“They love it,” he said. “I’ve been able to go in and watch a number of the kids use the facility, baseball in particular, and they’re thrilled with it. I’ve also had some alums see it and tour it and they have a sense of pride when they walk in and what it says about Northeastern’s commitment to our student-athletes.”

Roby said that, in all, the planning and implementation of the renovations was about a nine-month process. There were repairs also made to the roof of Cabot Cage.

“It all started with our coaches approaching me about the state of the Cage surface and their feeling that it was not the best surface for their athletes to be playing on,” he said, “because it was hard and it was slick. As soon as I heard that there might be safety issues and it wasn’t in our kids’ best interests, it got my attention.”

According to the Athletics Department’s announcement, the Solomon Indoor Track now has a “state-of-the-art Benyon BSS 1000 track surface,” which includes embedded granules that create a shock-absorbing cushion, a four-lane straightaway, two-lane oval and pole-vault pit. The infield track now boasts a “high-quality OmniGrass 41 surface” which features a two-inch pile-height that “delivers consistency and durability.”

The track, which opened in 1954, was first renovated in 1971. This is the third renovation on the facility.

The men’s and women’s track teams will continue to host meets at the Reggie Lewis Track ‘ Athletic Center on Tremont Street, and all of Northeastern’s athletic teams will be able to use the renovated facility for various training purposes.