Project Challenges and Outcomes

Challenges

The University of Pittsburgh Basketball Program’s locker rooms had not been updated for since the completion of the Petersen Events Center in 2002. At the time the facility was designed, the focus on recruiting was a design consideration, but far below the degree that is required for today’s Universities to compete on a National level. Since joining a new athletic conference, the ACC, it became clear that an update of their space was necessary. The client’s goals for the design team were to reinvigorate a sense of team pride, update the suites, promote Pitt basketball and its legacy, and ultimately create a space that allowed Pitt to compete on a National level. Pitt needed to create an experience for its Division I Men and Women basketball players and recruits that resonates with the millennial generation; therefore, an impressive recruitment path that incorporated new technology was also a major focus in the redesign. The project was on a strict time-line for completion.

Outcomes

DLA+ worked with the University, a branding and graphics firm and engineers to create a state of the art facility to meet the client’s goals. The existing locker rooms were drab, too small and did not have the appropriate amenities for today’s Division I basketball program. Pitt asked us to create larger locker rooms for the Men’s and Women’s program. Each locker room suite also needed to incorporate a nutrition bar, team video viewing area, lounge, Pitt branding and technology to create interest and excitement.

Space planning of the new design was aimed at creating an open, multi-functional space to create team unity, while also placing focus on the importance of each individual team member. The design would also contemplate the experience of a recruit touring the facility. The experience begins in the newly renovated elliptical arrival hall. This space features athletic conference branding and an array of flat screens and video wall that will play highlights of the program, feature players and team branding.

Off of the arrival hall, the hall of fame walk which highlights program milestones in the flooring and leads to the locker room suite entrances. Each locker room entry is on either side of a 3D abstract wall graphic of hoop netting highlighted by team branding. The floor of the locker entry, which is a maple basketball flooring material, is inset with a basketball inlay graphic.

Upon entering the locker room suite, players and visitors are greeted with an expansive lounge, nutrition bar and team viewing area. The locker room is accessed from within the suite through the lounge. Individual wood lockers, capped by personalized player graphics surround the space. The ceiling design features an abstract of a net being cut with scissors, symbolizing an NCCA Championship. This graphic is recessed in a vault, surrounded by a halo of blue, back lit glass.

Technology is one of the major components of the redesign. Both the team viewing area in the lounge and locker room include a smart board with the ability to project an interactive image that gives the players and coaches the ability to review plays and strategies. In addition to the smart boards, there are several monitors allowing the coach to playback past games, review videos, and study opponents in the team viewing area.

The project was delivered from Construction Documents to Occupancy in 4 months via a design build delivery method. The project budget of $1.6M was met and the project opened on time for basketball camp on September 1, 2014.