A Field House for Everyone

A wall of windows facing northwest toward Route 30 links the inside of the building to the landscape and fills the space with natural light.

Transformational Impact

A new track and artificial-turf field will exponentially increase opportunities for varsity, recreational, and intramural athletes. The building will feature a new entry plaza, NCAA-standard 200-meter track, jump and throwing area, 21,000-square-foot field, multipurpose room, coaches' areas, and locker rooms.

Replacing the Bubble

In 2002, a temporary air-supported structure known as the Bubble was erected on the old field house foundation. The Bubble provides an indoor venue for recreational sports, squash, winter track, and preseason practice for lacrosse, softball, and baseball.

The Bubble is nearing the end of its 10-year design life; it's expensive to maintain; and it isn't large enough to accommodate everyone who wants to use it. The campus master plan calls for it to be replaced with a permanent field house.

Plans call for construction on the new field house to being in the spring of 2013 and to be completed in the fall of 2014.

A New Track That Meets NCAA Standards

Multipurpose Area

At 21,000 square feet, the field inside the track will provide a superior surface and larger playing area for varsity and recreational athletes.

Varsity sports need to begin preparing for the spring season while the snow is still deep on the ground. Lighting, netting around the track, and batting cages will be provided, so the field can be used for off-season practice for men's and women's lacrosse and for softball and baseball. The artificial surface provides a true bounce for balls, similar to what athletes experience on outdoor fields, so indoor practice is more effective.

The multipurpose area will also provide a much-needed expansion of opportunities for indoor club, intramural, and recreational field sports. Soccer, rugby, and cricket teams all require space, and at times the Bubble is simply too small.

The Plaza

The project provides an opportunity to create a new, more welcoming entrance to the athletics complex. The sidewalk along Route 30 will connect to a new plaza that will provide access to Pepin Gymnasium as well as the field house, natatorium, Kenyon Arena, and squash facility. The plaza will also extend along the outside of the new field house, allowing visitors a glimpse into the activity in the building.

The Architects

Sasaki was founded 60 years ago on the basis of interdisciplinary planning and design. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the firm works in a variety of settings—locally, nationally, and globally. Sasaki has played a leading role in shaping the future of the built environment through bold ideas and new technologies. The firm approaches sustainability through the lenses of economics, social context, and the environment. Sasaki's goal is to help clients make smart, long-term decisions that result in greater value for them and a better future for the planet.