Former Rutgers star Darius Hamilton surveys the empty practice field during training camp in August.

PISCATAWAY -- The grass is about to be greener on the other side of the fence, but that's not the only change coming to the Rutgers football practice complex.

The area adjacent to the Hale Center will receive a complete functional and aesthetic overhaul thanks to the largest private donation in Rutgers athletics history, made by boosters Jeff and Amy Towers.

In addition to the two new grass fields with enhanced drainage and irrigation technology first reported Wednesday by NJ Advance Media, the upgrades announced Thursday by Rutgers in conjunction with newly released artist renderings include:

A state-of-the-art LED lighting system

New football goal posts

A new video board, two new scoreboards and six game clocks

Two permanent film towers

A 3,000-square foot storage unit, new maintenance equipment and permanent restrooms

"Rutgers athletes deserve no less than the best in facilities when preparing to compete for championships in the best athletic conference in America and on the country's biggest stage," Jeff and Amy Towers said in a statement.

"This best-in-class football practice complex will help recruit and develop Rutgers football players to do just that for many years to come."

The facility, which is home to a synthetic turf field as well as the two grass surfaces being replaced, also will undergo redesigns to the entranceway, fencing around the perimeter and interior landscaping.

After his hiring last December, Rutgers coach Chris Ash quickly identified an upgraded outdoor practice facility as a major need.

"This practice complex will be one of the best in college football," Ash said in a statement. "This new facility will help with player safety, player development and our efforts in recruiting. These improvements demonstrate Rutgers' commitment to building a first-class football program in the best conference in the country."

The fast-tracked project is expected to begin in the spring and be completed by Aug. 1, in time for training camp so that Rutgers does not have to bus players to Livingston Campus for the second straight summer.

Jeff and Amy Towers, along with Greg and Anna Brown, and Steve Plofker and his wife Bobbi Brown, made three separate record-setting gifts totaling more than $11 million to Rutgers' $100 million capital campaign in the spring. The Towers family earmarked their gift for the practice facility remodeling.

"We are very grateful to the Towers family for their tremendous support of Rutgers athletics and our football program," athletics director Pat Hobbs said in a statement.

"Their gift will dramatically improve the quality of our practice facility. It will also be a great asset as we recruit the nation's best and continue to make strides towards building Rutgers into a championship contender in the Big Ten."

R Big Ten Build has received 12 donations of more than $1 million apiece in the total of $67.3 million raised -- including $25 million in state-issued tax credits -- through early December, according to the school.

Within the last year, Rutgers has built a privately-funded indoor practice arena for the baseball and softball programs and held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new practice arena servicing the basketball, wrestling and gymnastics programs. RWJ Barnabas made an $18 million naming rights investment in the latter.

It is not known what company will handle the installation of the new grass surfaces but Rutgers is not lacking for expert opinions. The university is home to a highly respected Center for Turfgrass Science that has developed 10 varieties used at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, home of the 2016 PGA Championship.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.