A state-of-the-art facility.

Recruiters from the University of Minnesota (U of M) knew that attracting the nation’s best student-athletes, would demand a state-of-the art athletic training facility. Prior to the development of the U of M’s Athlete’s Village, student athletes had a 6,000 sq ft space shared between 700 of their peers. The new dynamic facility is home to the football and men’s/women’s basketball teams and offers 380,000 sq ft of space including a 16,000 sq ft weight room, nutritional center, hydrotherapy pools, film review rooms and a 180-seat classroom.

“When you have visiting players from powerhouse athletics programs complimenting Minnesota, you know you’ve done something right,” says Greg Fenton, AIA, Principal, and Senior Vice President at St. Paul based BWBR, the project’s architect of record.

Building in a highly populated city comes with a unique set of challenges. Wells supported the design team with the goal of building upwards in lieu of a typical flatter design, to accommodate the tight site. The six-floor facility was built with Wells insulated wall panels, hollowcore and beams, that were custom designed to aesthetically match the surrounding academic buildings. Precast also lent itself to an efficient timeline; student athletes were able to use the noteworthy new facility in record time.

The University of Minnesota Athlete Village
The University of Minnesota Athlete Village
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