NEW BRUNSWICK -- The soon-to-be-built athletics facility next to the Rutgers Athletic Center has a new name.

Thanks to an $18 million investment in the Rutgers athletics program, the multisport training facility is now called the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center.

RWJBarnabas Health, New Jersey's largest hospital and medical network, on Tuesday officially secured the naming rights for what will be Rutgers' flagship training facility for the basketball programs, wrestling and gymnastics teams.

The university's Board of Governors unanimously approved a resolution via teleconference during special meeting Tuesday morning.

In speaking to the governing board, university President Robert Barchi said RWJBarnabas wants the $18 million check to be considered "an investment in Rutgers' future'' rather than a fundraising gift.

Rutgers Athletics had put a $10 million price tag on the naming rights for the multisport facility alone.

Barchi said RWJBarnabas is "committing $18 million for the project for a combination of things,'' and added "$8 million will go towards the construction of a sports medicine facility that will be an extension to the building, which will be a practice program that will provide sports medicine for all of our 600 student-athletes as well as the rest of our students in the community.''

"The investment is such that it entitles them to naming rights for the facility,'' Barchi said of a combination parking garage/training facility that will feature 179,000 square feet of parking and 167,000 square feet of practice space/locker rooms/meeting areas and coaches offices.

In its resolution, Rutgers noted "its deep appreciation to RWJBarnabas Health for its long-standing support of Rutgers and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.''

"I think it's a significant achievement along the lines of our capital campaign, it's a signature event for a fantastic construction of a leading-edge facility,'' university Board of Governors chairman Greg Brown said. "I think it's a reflection of the university's commitment, (Barchi's) personal commitment to modernize the sports facilities and take Rutgers into the next level.''

Rutgers will host an invitation-only groundbreaking ceremony for its multisport training complex on today, 10 a.m., on the plot of land adjacent to the RAC where it will be built in what's expected to be a two-year construction phase.

Rutgers officials say construction is expected to begin in spring 2017 and the facility will be completed by July 2019.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.