A New Field House for Middlebury

This architects' rendering shows the plaza planned for the front of the new field house and the building's glass-filled facade.

At Middlebury, athletics are an essential part of the overall education experience. Fully 28 percent of Middlebury students participate in one or more varsity sports, and virtually all students use the recreational facilities.

The College's well-maintained playing fields and outstanding athletic facilities rank among the best in the country—with one glaring exception. The College has not had a real field house since 2002, when the 28-year-old-Fletcher Field House was demolished because of irreparable structural problems.

The Project

• The College plans to build the new field house adjacent to Kenyon Arena, replacing the Bubble. It will double the amount of space available for varsity, recreational, and intramural use and will house a 200-meter track and artificial-turf infield for field sports. Learn more.
• Squash will be relocated to a new facility behind Kenyon Arena, doubling the number of courts. Learn more.

The Cost and Funding the Project

The College is committed to funding the project through gifts. Construction will begin only when the College has received gifts and pledges for 100 percent of the cost and has 65 percent of that amount in cash. The total fundraising goal approved by the Board of Trustees is $46 million for both the field house and squash facility.

Timeline

Work on design and permitting began in the fall of 2011. Depending on the success of the fundraising effort, the infrastructure work—rerouting and upgrading the existing steam, sewer, electric, and water lines—could begin as early as this summer. This would allow for construction of the squash facility to begin as early as the fall of 2012 and work on the field house to begin in the spring of 2013. Building the squash facility first—rather than concurrently—would mean less disruption for athletes. This plan also minimizes disturbance to the campus community and makes the construction workflow most efficient.

The Architects

Middlebury has selected two experienced and highly regarded firms to design the new facilities: Sasaki Associates for the field house and ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge for the squash facility. Both are known for their commitment to sustainable design.

Connect

For more information, call 802.443.5185.