Left: Northwestern University Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center
This is the architecture of passion, community, performance, and experience.
Sports, recreation, and entertainment facilities are a true reflection of a community or institution’s spirit. The quality of design and functionality should attract both athletes and spectators alike. We create exceptional facilities that activate communities with year-round engagement.
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Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy and Research at The Stars
Clockwise from top: Yale Piedmont Wellness Center, Simon Fraser University Stadium, University, Reese Stadium Improvements and Tsai Lacrosse Field House
Areas of Expertise
Amphitheaters
Aquatics
Arenas
Collegiate
nj Arenas
nj Athletics
nj Recreation
Community Recreation
Entertainment Districts
eSports
Health and Human Performance
Sports Performance
Stadiums
― Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment
Legacy
For over 50 years, we’ve redefined sports, recreation, and entertainment venues while setting the standard for design.
Over our decades of experience, we have transformed the industry and built a reputation as one of the nation’s premier sports, recreation, and entertainment architects. Our leadership and expertise has propelled us to successfully design award winning work across the world.
― Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment
Future-Focused Facilities
Designed for a shared experience.
Bringing People Together
Partnerships
We partner with organizations like KultureCity that bring neurodiverse opportunities to sporting facilities
Common Goals
Creating safe environments for people to support a common goal!
Alumni and Donors
Recognizing and celebrating alumni and campus donors.
Sports and recreational design promises a future that is dynamic and includes immersive, multifunctional spaces with authentic experiences that cater to die-hard fans as well as “fluid” ones — those seeking new forms of entertainment. Virtual and augmented reality will transform how spectators interact, allowing patrons to immerse themselves in the action or even participate remotely. Flexibility will continue to increase in importance as creative programming is key to revenue generation. Advancements in materials and construction techniques will support facilities that are not only resilient but can quickly change without major modifications while also seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor environments. Sustainability will play a pivotal role in aligning venues with younger fans who are drawn to organizations that share their values and support the global push for environmental conservation. Community, stewardship, and the power of the collective experience (bringing different groups together like nothing else can) will continue to drive design decisions.
← University of Kentucky Gatton Student Center
→ Northwestern University Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center
Elevating athletes and communities.
The future is dynamic immersive, multifunctional, and authentic for both die-hard fans and "fluid" ones.
Multi-Sensory
Well-designed facilities offer a feast for the senses, captivating audiences through visuals, lighting, soundscapes, and culinary experiences.
Multiuse
Multiuse buildings optimize space utilization, enhance engagement, and accommodate diverse activities.
Authentic
Authentic spaces celebrate community identity and history by offering environments that create genuine connections.
Catalyst Facilities stimulate local economies, cohesion, and quality of life by optimizing revenue streams and tourism potential.
Sustainable Integrating aesthetic allure with environmental consciousness, these facilities leave an enduring mark on both their local landscapes and their communities.
Experience
We not only design to meet functional needs, we create designs that elevate user connection and excitement.
Neurodivergent
Sensory-friendly features, clear signage, and adaptable spaces allow everyone to comfortably participate and thrive.
Fandom
Projects can support a deeply devoted fan base while playing a significant role in the broader cultural landscape.
― Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment
Process
Many players, one team.
Our collaborative process incorporates your site, culture and values, delivering facilities that meet current needs and help share the future.
Selected Projects
Arenas
Aquatics
Collegiate Arenas
Collegiate Recreation
Community Recreation
Health and Human Performance
Master Planning
Stadiums
― Arenas
Designed for spectacular experiences
Epic performances. Thrilling competition. Arenas bring people together—as teams, as fans, and as neighborhoods—to share remarkable experiences. That’s why we prioritize understanding each stakeholder group to deliver facilities where memories—and communities— are made.
City of Savannah, Enmarket Arena
Savannah, Georgia
Client: City of Savannah
Size: 269,000 square feet (24,990 square meters)
Completion Date: 2022
Capacity: 10,000 seats
― WHAT IT IS
As the anchor of the Canal District Master Plan, the arena revitalizes and reconnects an historic neighborhood to the city’s downtown
“Enmarket Arena has something for everyone, whether your flavor is concerts, hockey, or the cool vibe of the southern speakeasy. It really is a welcoming place for all.”
JEFF CHERMELY, PERKINS&WILL
City of Savannah, Enmarket Arena
Target Center Renovations
Client: NBA Minnesota Timberwolves
Size: 830,000 square feet (77,110 square meters)
Completion Date: 2017
Capacity: 19,000 seats
Minneapolis, Minnesota ― WHAT IT IS
A renovation of a beloved facility scores major points with fans.
Target Center Renovations
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
From basketball games and concerts to family shows, over a million visitors pass through its doors every year.
Buoying public health and community spirit
We understand the complex needs that surround the integration of aquatic facilities into community recreation centers, university campuses, and healthcare settings. Our strategic approach puts performance first, prioritizing longevity, sustainability, and delight.
City of West Lafayette Community Wellness and Aquatic Center
West Lafayette, Indiana
Client: City of West Lafayette
Size: 73,000 square feet (6,781 square meters)
Completion Date: 2020
Awards:
AIA Indiana Merit Award 2021; AIA Colorado Honor Award, 2022
― WHAT IT IS Fitness, recreation, and community gathering spaces, all under one roof.
City of West Lafayette Community Wellness and Aquatic Center
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
Inclusive locker rooms and restrooms support the concept of a place designed for all.
The Beast - Eastside Regional Recreation Center
El Paso, Texas
Client: City of El Paso
Size: 141,000 square feet (13,099 square meters)
Completion Date: 2021
Sustainability: LEED Silver Awards:
Honor Award, AIA Dallas, 2022; Design Award, Texas Society of Architects, 2022; Award of Merit, Best Project Winner Sports/Entertainment, ENR Texas & Louisiana, 2021
― WHAT IT IS An oasis and anchor for the multi-generational community of El Paso.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
Inspired by regional indigenous history, the new facility anchors an ambitious park master plan for the growing city.
The Beast - Eastside Regional Recreation Center
― Collegiate Arenas
Designed for event days—and for everyday.
College arenas are built for big days—for convocations, graduations, game days and more. But they’re also built for everyday use, providing much-needed flex space, community gathering areas, and more.
Drawing on our experience working with campuses across the world, our design team delivers facilities that are the place to be, no matter what the occasion.
Portland State University, Viking Pavilion and Stott Center Renovation
Portland, Oregon
Client: Portland State University
Size: 140,000 square feet (13,006 square meters)
Completion Date: 2017
Seating Capacity: 3,400
Sustainability: LEED Gold
Awards:
BESTawards “LEARN”, International Interior Design Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter, 2018 Citation Award, The American Institute of Architects Portland, 2018
AIA Colorado Award of Distinction; Honorable Mention, 2020 American Architecture Award, Restoration/Renovation, The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, 2020
― WHAT IT IS
An outdated athletic center is transformed into a vibrant, welcoming hub for basketball games, concerts, and family shows.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
A glassy pavilion connects the building to the park, serving as a gateway to the campus and a destination for the community.
Portland State University, Viking Pavilion and Stott Center Renovation
Georgia State University, Convocation Center
Client: Georgia State University
Size: 200,000 square feet (18, 580 square meters)
Seating Capacity: 8,000
Completion Date: 2022
Atlanta, Georgia ― WHAT IT IS A multi-level facility with an elegant presence, and a destination for university and community patrons.
Georgia Sate University Convocation Center
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
Flexible design and state-of-theart technology and building controls make the convocation center the place to be — not just on big days, but every day.
University of Michigan, Crisler Center Renovation and Player Development Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Client: University of Michigan
Size: 450,000 square feet (41,806 square meters)
Completion Date: 2013
Seating Capacity: 13,751
Awards:
Athletic Business, Facility of Merit Award, 2014
Build Michigan Award, 2013 ENR, Midwest’s Project of the Year Award, 2013 Jackson Area Manufacturer’s Association (JAMA), Award to Everlast Lighting, 2013
― WHAT IT IS
An extensive renovation and addition to the University of Michigan's basketball arena strengthens the Wolverine's brand.
― Collegiate Recreation
Designed for mind, body, and school spirit.
Collegiate recreation centers support athletics – and so much more. Our collaborative design process, built on research and best practices in campus athletic design, delivers facilities that support the physical, mental, and social well-being of all students.
University of Kentucky, Gatton Student Center
Lexington, Kentucky
Client: University of Kentucky
Size: 378,000 square feet (35,115 square meters)
Completion Date: 2018
Sustainability: LEED Silver
Awards:
ACUI Facility Design, Award of Excellence, 2019
― WHAT IT IS
At the University of Kentucky, historic brick surrounds a state-ofthe-art student center.
University of Kentucky, Gatton Student Center
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
A dynamic stairway inspired by central Kentucky’s limestone creeks and riverbeds anchors a multi-program space at the heart of the campus.
Mohawk College, David Braley Athletic
and Recreation Centre
Client: Mohawk College
Size: 79,500 square feet (24,231 square meters)
Completion Date: 2013
Sustainability: LEED Gold
Awards:
Hamilton Urban Design Award, People’s Choice, 2015; Facility of Merit Award, Athletic Business, 2014
Hamilton, Ontario ― WHAT IT IS
The recreation center anchors an extensive master plan that supports the college’s growing athletic and recreation programs.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
This LEED Gold certified project achieves enhanced performance levels and establishes a new benchmark for environmental sustainability.
Mohawk College, David Bradley Athletic and Recreation Centre
― Community Recreation
Making spaces for community making.
As cities and neighborhoods grow and change, recreation centers serve as a place for people to come together.
Designed to last and designed to inspire, our buildings are conceived of as places where community-making happens every day.
Piedmont Wellness Center at Pinewood Forest
Fayetteville, Georgia
Client: Piedmont Healthcare
Size: 57,000 square feet (5,295 square meters)
Completion Date: 2019
WHAT IT IS A state-of-the-art community wellness facility with a focus on education.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
This space is serious about mental and physical well-being, but with plenty of room for play.
Piedmont Wellness Center at Pinewood Forest
A giant slide beside the stadium stairs encourages functional training while getting in touch with your inner child.
City of West Lafayette Community Wellness and Aquatic Center
Inclusive locker rooms and a sloped pool entry are just a few of the ways we’ve designed with dignity and safety for all.
West Lafayette Wellness Center
Singing Hills Recreation Center
Dallas, Texas
Client: City of Dallas
Size: 26,650 square feet (6,903 square meters)
Completion Date: 2021
Sustainability: LEED Silver
Awards: Merit Award, 41st Annual Facilities of Merit, Athletic Business, 2021; Honor Award, AIA Dallas Design Awards, 2021; Design Excellence Honor Award, Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards, The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), 2021
Singing Hills Recreation Center
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
The center creates a physical platform where recreation, community-building, and education intersect.
The Beast - Eastside Regional Recreation Center
El Paso, Texas
Client: City of El Paso
Size: 141,000 square feet (4,297 square meters)
Completion Date: 2021
Sustainability: LEED Silver
Awards: Honor Award, AIA Dallas, 2022; Design Award, Texas Society of Architects, 2022; Award of Merit, Best Project Winner Sports/Entertainment, ENR Texas & Louisiana, 2021
― WHAT IT IS
Located on the fastgrowing east side of El Paso, the center creates an oasis for a multigenerational population.
The Beast - Eastside Regional Recreation Center
Aaniin Community Centre and Library
Markham, Ontario
Client: City of Markham
Size: 122,000 square feet (4,460 square meters)
Completion Date: 2017
Sustainability: LEED Gold
Awards: Interiors Award, Civic/Public, Contract Magazine, 2019; Best of Year Institutional, Interior Design Magazine, 2019; Institutional Wood Design Award, > $15 M, WoodWORKS!, 2019
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Designed as an “indoor town hall,” this hub helps newcomers feel part of the community.
Aaniin Community Centre and Library
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
Anchored by generous public plaza spaces, the centre encourages a more urban and sustainable pattern of growth within this rapidly burgeoning part of the city.
― Health and Human Performance
Unlocking potential with comprehensive care.
Our holistic approach to athletic performance addresses the physical, social, and emotional well-being of each person. Blending the latest in clinical care, fitness, research, and teaching, our facilities are designed to improve performance—whether maintaining an active lifestyle or competing at the highest level.
With a truly wellrounded approach to well-being, the design makes ample room for work and play.
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Client: Partners Healthcare
Size: 260,000 square feet (79,248 square feet)
Completion Date: 2013
Sustainability: LEED Gold
Awards: Preservation Achievement Award Boston Preservation Alliance, 2013; Acute Care Facilities Winner Healthcare Environment Awards, 2013; Sustainable Design Award Boston Society of Architects, 2013; Honor Award, Healthcare Facilities Design Boston Society of Architects, 2014
― WHAT IT IS
This rehab hospital provides flexible spaces for individualized paths to mobility, independence, and confidence.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
When it comes to patient recovery, areas of respite are just as important as areas dedicated to physical rehabilitation.
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Baylor Scott & White, Sports Therapy and Research at The Star
Frisco, Texas
Client: Baylor Scott & White Health
Size: 300,000 square feet (91,440 square feet)
Completion Date: 2018
Awards: Runner Up Rethinking The Future Awards, 2020; Built Design Honor Award, AIA Dallas, 2019; Honorable Mention, Contract Magazine Healthcare Environment Awards, 2019; Best Projects Award of Merit - Healthcare, ENR Texas and Louisiana, 2018; Best Real Estate Deals - Medical Category, Dallas Business Journal, 2017;
Outstanding Medical Real Estate Project, DCEO Excellence in Healthcare Awards, 2016
Baylor Scott & White, Sports Therapy and Research at The Star
“Our population health strategies are designed to support total well-being. I cannot think of a better way to achieve this goal than with a facility like this one.”
― JOEL ALLISON, FORMER CEO OF BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE HEALTH
Baylor Scott & White, Sports Therapy and Research at The Star
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
A collaboration between the Dallas Cowboys and Baylor Scott & White Health that prioritizes prevention, training, and recovery.
Northwestern University Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center
Evanston, Illinois
Client: Northwestern University
Size: 420,000 square feet (128,016 square meters)
Completion Date: 2018
Sustainability: Targeting LEED Gold Awards: Merit Award, ASLA Illinois, 2019; Best Custom Solution PCI Design Awards, 2019; Merit Award Finalist, Chicago Building Congress, 2019; ENR Midwest, Best Overall Project Award, 2018; Best Project over $150 million, Structural Engineers Association of Illinois, 2018
“Facility design, including appropriate adjacencies to clinical spaces as well as preservation of confidentiality, can help remove the negative stigma around addressing mental health issues in collegiate student athletes.”
― TORY LINDLEY, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC TRAINING
Northwestern University Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center
Northwestern University Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center
― Athletics Master Planning
Many players, one team.
A strong athletic program strengthens the campus along with the athletes. Our collaborative planning process incorporates the site, culture, and values of each campus, delivering facilities that meet the current needs of the student body and of multiple stakeholders—and help to shape the future.
Columbia University, Athletics Master Plan for Tennis, Squash
An athletic facility with staying power, designed to withstand rising seas on Manhattan’s waterfront.
Columbia University, Athletics Master Plan for Tennis, Squash and Archery Programs
McMaster University, Athletics Master Plan
Hamilton, Ontario
Client: McMaster University
Completion Date: 2016
― Stadiums
Diverse communities. Shared experiences.
The best stadiums are unique in their own ways, but they’ve all got one thing in common: team spirit. Whether we’re renovating a classic or designing something entirely new, we create places that reflect local culture, build community, and ignite fandom.
An elegant cantilever creates a shaded outdoor gathering space for both formal and informal uses.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
The bold architectural gesture integrates a terrace-level press box with washrooms, service spaces, and the football locker room below.
Outside of event days, the stadium becomes a southfacing outdoor seating area to view athletic or cultural events and activities that support building community on campus.
Simon Fraser University at Terry Fox Field
Reese Stadium Improvements
and Tsai Lacrosse Field House
New Haven, Connecticut
Client: Yale University
Size: 34,800 square feet (3,233 square meters)
Completion Date: 2021
Sustainability: LEED Gold
Serving as a gateway to the athletics district, the new team facility complements the existing stadium and dramatically enhances the game day experience.
“When you have a really nice home field, it’s exciting for both the players and the spectators. It creates an atmosphere that is super exciting, and everyone is looking forward to start playing home games.”
Reese Stadium Improvements and Tsai Lacrosse Field House
RUDY MEREDITH, HEAD COACH WOMEN’S SOCCER
Since 1935, we’ve believed that design has the power to make the world a better, more beautiful place.
That’s why clients and communities on nearly every continent partner with us to design healthy, happy places in which to live, learn, work, play, and heal. We’re passionate about human-centered design, and committed to creating a positive impact in people’s lives through sustainability, resilience, well-being, diversity, inclusion, and research. In fact, Fast Company named us one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture. Our global team of 2,700 creatives and critical thinkers provides integrated services in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and more. Our partners include Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen; retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; sustainable transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; and luxury hospitality design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR).
