This rendering shows the planned design for the International Marathon Center, which is to be located off East Main Street.

The Select Board at Tuesday’s meeting voiced its unanimous support for the International Marathon Center project.

At the meeting, members of the 26.2 Foundation and Scott Richardson, the project’s architect, presented updates to the center and its next steps. 

Richardson, of Hopkinton-based Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects, walked the board through the vision of the proposed facility. He explained the International Marathon Center (IMC) would feature exhibit areas, multi-use spaces for rental and activities, a 250-seat theater and educational rooms focused on health, wellness and fitness.

He also suggested the facility could serve as a trail hub, connecting trails running north and south through town.

According to Richardson, the center would be a “world-class facility dedicated to telling the history of the marathon around the world.”

Tim Kilduff, president of the 26.2 Foundation, stressed to the board that while the Boston Marathon would be featured at the IMC, it would not be its sole focus.

“We’re not just talking about one marathon,” he said. “We’re talking about going all the way back to 490 B.C.” 

The plans for the center include tracing the history of the sport — from its roots in the Battle of Marathon to the first Olympics and into modernity — throughout its exhibits.

The project is estimated to cost $35 million. Kilduff insisted all the funds would be raised privately. His foundation continues to court private and institutional donors.

The Select Board appeared enthusiastic about the latest update to the project.

“I love it,” said chair Brian Herr. “It’s a great opportunity not only for Hopkinton, but for MetroWest and Massachusetts as well.”

Vice chair Shahidul Mannan and member Joe Clark offered support to Kilduff and his team, should they need it. 

Member Mary-Jo LaFreniere advocated for spreading the word about the center as wide as possible.

“We need to let marathoners everywhere know this is happening, and it’s happening for them,” she said.

26.2 Foundation Executive Director Tim Kilduff (left) makes a point to the Select Board while seated alongside architect Scott Richardson (center) and Mike Laurence, a member of the 26.2 Foundation board. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Kilduff lays out wider vision

In an interview with the Independent, Kilduff went into greater detail about the IMC project.

While Tuesday’s presentation to the Select Board was meant to “reorient” the members to the IMC’s size and scope, it also was what Kilduff described as the beginning of a longer process.

“We want to create a channel of communication, especially as we start to talk about going through permitting,” he explained.

The 26.2 Foundation hopes to initiate the permitting process in the next few months, Kilduff shared. There also is due diligence needed to be done on the property. He reported there are some issues on-site that his team is working to resolve.

The foundation has leased 19 acres from the town on East Main Street, just before Weston Nurseries and the Spirit of the Marathon statue. It is about a half-mile from the Boston Marathon start line (next to the Town Common).

Kilduff’s vision of the center is a facility that would attract visitors not for just one month, but year-round.

“We’re looking at building programs that bring people here 12 months out of the year,” he said.

He believes the IMC would boost Hopkinton’s economy “across the board.” He pointed to numbers from the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau that indicate an increase in tourism to the MetroWest area in recent years.

Further data provided by Kilduff and the 26.2 Foundation discuss both direct and indirect economic impacts. He stated that this data was under review still, and that the foundation hoped to have a more comprehensive economic report in the coming months.

Kilduff expressed optimism about the project’s timeline. The foundation projects a public phase of fundraising next year, along with the finalization of permitting and land surveyance. 

“Having the groundbreaking next year would be ideal,” he added.

The foundation anticipates the IMC’s doors will open two years after ground is broken. It would open in 2027 if work began on the facility next year.

Kilduff and his team hope to “build a center of excellence designed to honor, celebrate and inspire the power of the human spirit” through marathoning.

“This is a global institution we’re trying to build,” he said.