Few programs have the historic success and impact that the basketball program has had on the institutional identity of this public university and as the program grew it needed dedicated support spaces for training, wellness, and education. The design for a new state-of-the-art joint basketball practice facility for this university’s top ranked women’s and men’s teams is a signature armature that anchors the growing ath¬letics precinct in the heart of campus. It not only provides the men's and women's basketball teams with vital resources, but also frees up facility access for other programs and student-athletes in other campus buildings. With approximately 35,000 gross square feet of space, the practice facility stands near the basketball stadium and is adjacent to a new football training center.

Two unique design elements arose from extensive site studies by the team. First, both practice courts were placed on the ground level, which kept costs in line as the project moved forward. Second, energy demand is minimized throughout the day via the design of custom north facing skylights that ensure high levels of glare-free, indirect daylight, which is critical for practices that occur throughout the day.

High performance both inside and out, the training center’s exterior is clad in custom molded thin panels of glass fiber reinforced concrete that are pre-fabricated off-site yet erected on-site, thus keeping down costs while creating a unique, warm undulating pattern. Inside ETFE, easily recyclable and long-lasting, is installed in the practice court skylights. Above the main entry is the highly specialized weight room that is flooded with natural light and glows as a beacon in the evening. The project is certified LEED Platinum.

Credits: Thornton Tomasetti, Integral Group, The Olin Studio, KPFF, AECOM, PCL

Credits:
- Integral Group
- AECOM
- Thornton Tomasetti
- PCL
- KPFF
- The Olin Studio