Indoor Practice Facillities

Indoor Practice Facilities

2026

Statement of Qualifications

Design Considerations for

Indoor Practice Facilities School districts across the country are facing a variety of external pressures— from expanding extracurricular participation to increased expectations for collegiate-level amenities—that are calling for a new type of space. Once reserved primarily for collegiate and professional athletics, indoor practice and training facilities are quickly becoming an essential part of how K–12 schools serve students, student-athletes and the broader community.

By providing flexible, weatherindependent space, districts can help students balance school life with family life and achieve better academic and athletic outcomes.

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ARCHITECTURE | INTERIORS | ENGINEERING

Improving Academic Performance

Elevating Sports Performance

Academic research continues to highlight the connection between proper sleep and student performance in the classroom.

As participation in extracurricular activities continues to rise, many student-athletes find themselves practicing before school or until 9 or 10 p.m., particularly during inclement weather seasons when outdoor fields are unavailable. An indoor practice facility can be a cost-effective way to maximize utilization by extending practice capacity without extending practice hours.

Trends at the higher education level often influence expectations at the K–12 level. Student-athletes, coaches and communities increasingly look for training environments that mirror collegiate standards.

Space types, quantities and definitions for these types of facilities can vary widely. Most facility conversations initially default to a full-sized, turfed football field or soccer field. In either case, the field can be segmented with strategically-placed dividers and hanging amenities to easily transform to accommodate day-today and hour-by-hour needs.

• Strength and conditioning spaces

With thoughtful design interventions, these large-span spaces can also support:

• Downtime destinations

• Baseball and softball practice (with retractable netting systems) • Marching band rehearsals • Lacrosse and rugby • Golf simulators and skill development areas

Examples include the ability to incorporate: • Rehabilitation and sports medicine areas • Plyometric and speed training zones

• Sports performance technology integration • Recovery lounges and wellness-focused rooms • Nutritional science and commodities • Tutoring and other academic support services

• Sports business and management support and resources These enhancements support injury prevention, year-round conditioning, safe environments, academic support and basic life skills specific to a student-athlete. Having conversations early in the planning and design process creates operational efficiency while elevating the overall performance ecosystem necessary for development of a successful, well-rounded student-athlete.

• Dance and cheerleading • Standardized testing or large school events However, modern indoor facilities are evolving beyond simple open turf fields. This requires an extended conversation to maximize their impact. School districts and their architects must answer two questions: 1. WHY is this facility needed? What is the real purpose of the facility and whom it will serve?

2. WHAT are the desired outcomes? What added value is an indoor practice and training facility going to add to our students, parents, teachers, athletes and community members?

When the Why and What is clear, the design decisions that follow become far more strategic, impactful and fiscally-responsible.

Enhancing the Spectator Experience When indoor practice facilities are intended to host competitions or community events, the design approach expands. Fixed or retractable seating, enhanced acoustics, upgraded sound systems, and digital scoreboards may all become necessary components.

Incorporating concessions, upgraded restroom amenities, viewing mezzanines, and gathering areas allows the facility to support tailgating, tournaments, and special events— transforming it from a practice venue into a community destination.

Key design strategies include: • Integrated branding and school identity • Feature walls, graphics and broadcasting to create social media moments • Sponsorship and donor recognition areas

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Maximizing Community Use Community access can significantly increase public support for funding capital projects while providing long-term return on investment. Designing for shared use ensures the building serves more than just after-school athletics.

Potential additions may include: • An elevated indoor walking track • Multi-purpose community rooms • Convertible ball courts • Meeting or event rental spaces • Café or small restaurant areas • Integrated exterior gathering spaces, plazas and gateways These amenities build equitable access to training, amenities and programs within the community and can also generate revenue beyond the school day and throughout the year.

Designing with Purpose Indoor practice facilities represent a highly flexible opportunity to elevate student experience, athletic performance, and community engagement. But the most successful projects don’t begin with square footage—they begin with clarity.

By defining the why—academic support, athletic development, spectator engagement, or community activation—districts can align design decisions with long-term goals.

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Carmel High School Greyhound Activities Center Carmel, IN

The new Greyhound Activities Center includes a fullsized football field with artificial turf to serve a wide range of athletics, performing arts and student groups.

The centerpiece of the new center is a full-size indoor football field with artificial turf, offering year-round training and practice opportunities for student-athletes. The facility also includes modern locker rooms, a dedicated band tower, and a large storage room to accommodate the needs of Carmel's award-winning band program. This innovative space is designed to enhance the student experience, bringing together various activities under one roof and providing the resources needed to support Carmel High School's tradition of excellence.

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C LI E N T Carmel Clay Schools SCOPE 90,000 New SF COST $14.3 M C O M P L E T I O N DAT E 2024

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Badger Fieldhouse Carmel, IN

A partnership between Carmel Dads' Club and Clay Township brought new athletic opportunities to Carmel, Indiana.

Clay Township and Carmel Dads Club collaborated with Fanning Howey to design a new fieldhouse. The new building has four basketball courts and one full-sized synthetic turf field lined for football and soccer. There are also three batting cages for baseball and softball.

The fieldhouse is funded by Clay Township and is operated by Carmel Dads Club. The partnership supports the 12 athletic programs offered by Carmel Dads' Club, as well as after-hours use by the public.

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ARCHITECTURE | INTERIORS | ENGINEERING

C LI E N T Carmel Dads' Club SCOPE 152,229 New SF COST $12.0 M C O M P L E T I O N DAT E 2021

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Center Grove Hitting & Practice Facility Greenwood, IN

The new Center Grove athletics facility is a state-ofthe-art training space designed to support studentathletes, with a focus on advancing opportunities for female athletes.

At the heart of the facility is a dedicated softball infield with an instructional hitting space, providing players with year-round training opportunities. The space also features indoor golf simulators for the boys' and girls' golf teams, as well as a dedicated indoor practice area for cheerleading teams. Designed to enhance athletic development and performance, this facility ensures Center Grove's student-athletes have the resources needed to succeed. Additionally, the facility was completed without increasing the tax rate for White River Township taxpayers.

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C LI E N T Center Grove Community School Corporation SCOPE 9,300 New SF COST $3.9 M C O M P L E T I O N DAT E 2024

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Dr. Jerry and Donna Thacker Fieldhouse Mishawaka, IN

The 80,000 SF Penn Field House is designed as a flexible facility to serve a wide variety of athletic groups, educational opportunities and community needs.

The design creates a free-standing building with four multipurpose courts, a 200-meter track and runways for long jump and pole vault.

Support spaces include concessions, locker rooms, dressing rooms, family restrooms and an athletic training facility. A wrestling room and dance room were designed as alternates and be constructed in the future. The second floor of the field house features a commons, a large observation area, additional locker rooms and dressing rooms, and community meeting rooms. The flexible design of the field house will allow it to support events ranging from basketball, volleyball and baseball to track, tennis and robotics competitions.

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ARCHITECTURE | INTERIORS | ENGINEERING

C LI E N T Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation SCOPE 80,000 New SF COST $15.9 M C O M P L E T I O N DAT E 2025

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Warsaw Student Activity Center Warsaw, IN

The new Student Activity Center at Warsaw High School is a catalyst for health and wellness for students and the entire Warsaw community.

The multi-sport venue supports a wide range of fitness and recreational activities, from basketball and volleyball to tennis and field events.

A 200-meter indoor track with four full cross courts brings fitness amenities to a new level for students, staff and local residents. The design also incorporates flexible classrooms, childcare facilities for students and teachers and an on-site community health clinic.

A B OV E | A 200-meter indoor track with four full cross courts brings fitness amenities to the community.

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ARCHITECTURE | INTERIORS | ENGINEERING

C LI E N T Warsaw Community Schools SCOPE 65,000 New SF COST $9.2 M C O M P L E T I O N DAT E 2019

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Center Grove Student Activity Center Greenwood, IN

Designed to benefit as many students and community members as possible, the new Center Grove Student Activity Center (SAC) has something for everyone.

Flexible design concepts allow the SAC to support a limitless range of activities—from track, weight training and fitness programs to band practice, robotics competitions and community recreation. The facility features four basketball/volleyball courts, a weight room and the first 200-meter indoor track in an Indiana K-12 school

C LI E N T Center Grove Community School Corporation SCOPE 61,003 New SF 7,233 Renovated SF COST $8.7 M C O M P L E T I O N DAT E 2017

A B OV E | The SAC addition features a 200-meter indoor track, four basketball/ volleyball courts and spaces for wrestling.

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ARCHITECTURE | INTERIORS | ENGINEERING

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Zionsville High School - Fieldhouse Zionsville, IN

When Zionsville Community Schools wanted to expand its high school to include a new field house, Fanning Howey designed an addition that is more than a place for recreation.

C LI E N T Zionsville Community Schools

The expansion space includes a large commons area and a learning center to support the new field house, weight and fitness facilities. The commons is ideal for group meetings, athletic team gatherings and surge space for athletic events. A new entrance provides students with direct access to the Activity Center.

COST $7.4 M

The use of a very economical load bearing insulated concrete wall panel system yielded additional budget flexibility. Fanning Howey designers used these savings to develop targeted renovations to convert underutilized interior space within the high school into a lecture hall, vocal and instrumental studios and additional classroom space within the overall project budget.

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SCOPE 56,159 New SF 15,937 Renovated SF

C O M P L E T I O N DAT E 2015

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Gladstein Fieldhouse Indoor Track Resurfacing Bloomington, IN

A detailed resurfacing project took one of the nation's elite indoor tracks to new heights of performance.

The Mondo-surfaced banked track in Gladstein Fieldhouse was originally constructed for Indianapolis's RCA Dome and was used for the PanAm Games. In 2006, the track was removed from the RCA Dome and reassembled on the campus of Indiana University.

Fanning Howey served as Architect of Record for the resurfacing of the track. The effort involved consultation with contractors who specialized in the track's poured polyurethane surface. The project was completed on budget and in time for the University's first indoor track meet in December 2013. That meet saw eight top times for different events, nationally.

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C LI E N T Indiana University Bloomington COST $ 300 K C O M P L E T I O N DAT E 2013

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Firm Overview

Fanning Howey is an integrated architecture, interiors, and engineering firm specializing in learning environments. We use the power of design to create smarter, happier learners, more successful educators and stronger communities.

From our offices in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan we have designed learning environments throughout the Midwest and across the country. Our team is devoted to finding ways to conceive and build inspirational places for teaching and learning.

W E A R E LE A D E R S I N :

• Architecture • MEP Engineering • Interior Design • Landscape Architecture • Technology Design • Construction Administration • Master Planning • Educational Visioning • Bond Issue/Referendum Assistance

15M

35+

50+

square feet of space planning for educational communities

new or renovated fieldhouses and indoor athletic facilities

artificial turf fields

3,850+

130+

projects in 36 states and Washington, DC since 1961

professionals focused on improving learning environments

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65 years of expertise creating impactful spaces

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