The program involved 4 departments from 3 colleges: Athletics, Dance, Kinesiology, Hospitality and Tourism Management, with additional interdisciplinary programs. The key insight to the project was to bring clarity to the circulation and with it to the departments’ arrangements within the structure of the original gymnasia and locker room spaces.

The four buildings, constructed over a period of 30 years, did not meet the University’s curriculum needs nor ability to adapt easily to pedagogical evolution. They were lacking in compliance with current safety, accessibility and energy requirements. Constructed at a time when the campus was bisected by public streets, the entries and buildings focused away the public. The buildings became walled off to the campus paseos and contained corridors that created defensive maze-like pathways to spaces. There was also no interior linkage to the campus walkways that bound the north and south paseos.

The project modernizes systems and structures, integrates the buildings into the campus circulation systems, and to student and faculty access. The design created new entries and linkages; created a new internal circulation providing core pathways, with clear secondary corridors, that linked the new north and south entries to the campus and established interior central student spaces. It also created ready building access to the campus community’s paths from the nearest public transportation system.

There were 2 significant logistic challenges. One was in Phase 1 where the original campus gymnasium and the new judo dojo are located. Both spaces host NCAA team conference meets and hosts outside events, but the existing public access was from the outside entry only stair towers. The solution was a create new glass lobby connecting the new north and existing south entries, to create views north to the 1930’s campus buildings, and to open up to the new rooftop terrace with its exterior seating and planted roof.

The second logistic challenge was in Phase 2 for the Dance Performance space. It was located far from main entry doors and up an interior stair system. The Dance Department wanted visibility. The solution was to locate the performance space above the existing breezeway connecting it with an elevator and stairs that serve the theater and allowing the rest of the building to be closed off safely after hours. Glass was added to the rear stage which faces the main east/west paseo, allowing the dancers to rehearse in a very visible setting from the paseo, engaging the campus attention and interest.

The exterior addition elements are in contrast to the rectangular original structures. The curved exterior walls, glazing and roof structures contrast and complement the blank solidity of the original buildings. The flow of the additions emphasizes the departments’ natures – the body in motion, the fluidity of movement, the contrast between rigidity and flexibility, and the openness of physical spatial experience.