Title: University of South Carolina Football Operations Center
Location of Proejct: Columbia, SC
Project Completion Date: 2019
Firm Name: Quackenbush Architects + Planners

Short Description: This 110,000 sf collegiate Division One Football Operations Facility consolidates previously scattered functions to a single location and organizes them in such a way as to support the whole student athlete, improving their ability to train and attain their personal aspirations. Part of a campus that includes an existing indoor practice facility, outdoor training fields, improved tailgating park, and the campus's iconic stadium, the new facility is a celebration of team for players and fans alike, reflecting the culture of the program and the pride of the community.

Architect's Statement: Driven by efficiency and performance, this Division One Football Operations Facility is a place to work, to teach, to motivate, and to inspire. Located adjacent to existing training facilities as well as the campus’s iconic stadium, this 110,000 sf building’s design completes the pre-existing complex and creates a new home for the team. Team values and traditions are celebrated using contextual building materials, branding and technology, ultimately creating a facility that is now the focal point for the football programs identity.

For a student athlete—whose priorities include not just their sport and team, but also their academic work and personal development--every minute counts. This new facility consolidates previously scattered team functions into a cohesive center supporting all of the student-athlete’s needs, improving efficiency and safety. Key program spaces are arranged to create intuitive, efficient routes maximizing the quality of time spent in the building- essential for such a large and complex program.

Athletes who arrive early in the morning for practice often stay at the building through the day and into the evening for meals, meetings, and socialization. Lounges, locker rooms, and interiors throughout the facility are designed to promote community and leverage the consolidation of team functions to increase camaraderie between players, staff, and coaches.

The first floor of the new building hosts active team spaces such as weight room, training room, equipment room and locker room, while team meeting spaces and offices comprise the second floor. Paths through the building are tailored to provide unique experiences to individual user groups including student-athletes, coaches and fans. The public enters through the lobby adjacent a recently upgraded tailgating park on axis with the stadium, while student athletes and coaches access the building through a dedicated entry near the facility’s main parking area.

Site planning for the project was critical in order to be in sync with the team’s existing indoor practice facility and outdoor practice fields. There is an intimate relationship between the operations building and the fields, allowing indoor and outdoor training to happen seamlessly. Practices are not only more efficient for athletes, but also safer due to the provision of direct access to treatment and rehabilitation areas when needed.

The new operations center builds an aesthetic connection to the existing facilities through its massing and material palette, while at the same time, distinguishing itself with a unique character through the transparency of the facade. Generous expanses of glass enhance perimeter spaces, with areas along the east enhanced by sweeping views of the tailgating park and stadium beyond. Along the west side, assistant coach offices, player lounge, and training spaces enjoy views of the practice field.

The transparency of the lobby creates a “lantern” with a 28-foot tall team logo highlighted within, visible from the adjacent tailgating area and stadium. Housing trophy cases, interactive displays, and a 27-foot-tall video wall, this lobby allows the public to explore the team’s history and tradition.

The 20,000 SF weight room, the ultimate workhorse space within the facility, is a two-story volume with exposed structure and a faceted balcony spanning overhead. The angular motif continues in the details of this area in floor demarcations as well as in the custom weight racks designed for the project.

Additional experiential design elements, from large format graphics to specially designed signage, are incorporated throughout, establishing a cohesive expression of team culture. Clean, contemporary interiors are juxtaposed with a motif of strong angles defining the space, reflective of an aggressive athletic program. A restrained finish palette allows the dynamic nature of the architecture to stand out and gives greater impact to graphic and experiential elements.