On August 23, 2016, the eve of the first day of classes, the Salem Academy and College community was invited to a campus-wide picnic followed by the official dedication of the Bert Lain Tennis Center, the fulfillment of a dream.

The new facility features twelve new tennis courts with state-of-the-art surfacing, new aluminum bleachers, benches, hydration stations, vinyl-coated fencing, and a crosswalk with two entry gateways. 

“Today, we are dedicating a world-class competition complex for our scholar-athletes, recognizing a marvelous addition that will help serve the recreation and exercise needs of our entire student bodies,” said Sallie Craig Huber C '68, chair of the board of trustees of Salem Academy and College. 

The new tennis facility, which was named in May 2015 through a gift from an anonymous donor, honors Salem College professor Norbert F. “Bert” Lain in recognition of his lifelong support of women's athletics.

The construction and planning team for the project included Frank L. Blum Construction Company and Stimmel Associates, which recently collaborated with Salem on the construction of McHugh Sisters Flats—a $6 million, 32,000-square-foot apartment-style residence located on the north end of campus.

Construction of the tennis facility is an $800,000 initiative of Salem Academy and College's Women of Purpose campaign, which has raised more than $40 million of its $60 million goal.