Taking “Complicated” Out of New Sports Complexes
Building new is not always the best solution—particularly for institutional clients facing funding constraints and fast-changing programmatic needs.
An athletic center renovation and expansion supporting recruitment and development of Holy Cross student athletes and wellness across the entire community
The College of the Holy Cross Hart Center Expansion
The design completely transforms the original 1975 building, giving it a greater presence on campus and a renewed pride in the storied history of Holy Cross athletics
The phased expansion and renovation of the Hart Athletic Center was completed in late 2017. Eight distinct implementation phases allowed the college to maintain use of the building throughout construction. The visible and transparent complex provides a comprehensive complement of facilities, including strength and conditioning, sports medicine, and practice venues, aimed at improving performance, increasing awareness, and supporting all of the Crusaders’ Division I programs.
A successful athletic facility expresses the look of the campus and enhances an athletic program’s identity and brand
The main design goal was to bring more natural light into the existing spaces and establish clear connections throughout the complex. This was achieved by maximizing glazing in the addition, starting with the new lobby which, in contrast to the old entrance, is clear and inviting to visitors and hints at the vibrant activity happening within.
The college’s primary goal for the project was to elevate facilities for all programs to help recruiting and improve the development opportunities for student athletes. The new addition includes a 60′ high indoor turf practice facility, an auxiliary practice gymnasium, suites for basketball and administration offices, a dynamic strength and conditioning center, various meeting rooms, a new main entrance lobby, and new locker rooms, to ensure that all programs have dedicated team rooms.
The goal was to design spaces to impact as many programs as possible, improving the entire athletics program
A comprehensive compliment of facilities, including strength and conditioning, sport medicine, and practice venues, aimed at improving performance, increasing awareness, and supporting all of the Crusaders’ Division 1 programs
Views from the existing ice hockey and basketball arenas were also opened up to the lobby and mezzanine to create a synergy between the areas where student athletes perform and where they study and socialize
A new main spine clarifies the building’s circulation and connects the existing venues, with each corridor culminating at a framed view into one of the performance venues
Design and function merge in this renovation-expansion project
A variety of spaces allow students and student athletes to integrate wellness, social life, and academics into their busy schedules
Along the spine, spaces for students to meet, study, and relax are strategically placed allowing more natural light to penetrate the remaining programs
Views from the existing ice hockey and basketball arenas were also opened up to the lobby and mezzanine to create a synergy between the areas where student athletes perform and where they study and socialize
A new main spine clarifies the building’s circulation and connects the existing venues, with each corridor culminating at a framed view into one of the performance venues
Design and function merge in this renovation-expansion project
A variety of spaces allow students and student athletes to integrate wellness, social life, and academics into their busy schedules
Along the spine, spaces for students to meet, study, and relax are strategically placed allowing more natural light to penetrate the remaining programs
Impact and results were key drivers for the design
Expansive views from the Hart Center, which sits atop a hill
The facility’s new sport medicine suite is aimed at improving performance, increasing awareness, and supporting the Crusaders’ Division I programs. Comprising four different rooms that were once squash and racquetball courts the sport medicine suite now includes an aqua therapy room with three hot and cold plunge tanks and windows to the outside for daylight.
The renovations provide additional offices, a rowing studio, expanded accommodations for equipment handling, and a new locker room for the women’s ice hockey program, which is also now competing in Division I. The design completely transforms the original 1975 building, giving it a greater presence on campus and a renewed pride in the storied history of Holy Cross athletics.
The basketball court
The enclosed turf field allows for year-round preparation for multiple teams
The indoor turf facility is 60-feet-high, and its floor is built a level below the main level to take advantage of the site’s slope and reduce the overall scale of the large volume
When looking up the hill the building appears one story. The shorter and smaller spaces–an auxiliary practice gymnasium, suites for basketball and administration offices, strength and conditioning center, various meeting rooms, a new entrance lobby, locker rooms, team rooms, and offices–wrap the front of the addition and follow the natural slope of the hill. The new plaza runs parallel with interior spine, and many of new social spaces directly open to it.
For more information contact Chris Sgarzi.
