ARCHITECTURE | HIGHER EDUCATION ATHLETICS

2012 - 2014 | Built

With the transition of the UMass football program into the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the University of Massachusetts Amherst initiated development of a new collegiate football performance center and press box to support their growth. As one of the campus’s most visible sites, this project marks a significant opportunity to re-imagine the spirit and character of the stadium and its surrounding landscape to create a vibrant and active hub for campus life and intercollegiate athletics.

Revitalizing the existing McGuirk Alumni Stadium by placing the new performance center on the north end of the stadium, the 55,000 sf training facility establishes a new “gateway” entry from the campus and community parking. Setting standards for athletic achievement and academic excellence on par with national and regional peer institutions, the complex offers new facilities for an improved student-athlete experience that fosters a strong sense of camaraderie, improved retention, and the recruitment of the top athletes in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Designed for program growth and expansion with minimal disruption to existing activities and practice schedules, the Football Performance Center and Press Box are the first of a phased master plan for the expansion of McGuirk Alumni Stadium.