Georgia State University’s new Convocation Center doubles the arena it replaces and is expected to give a shot in the arm to a long-neglected Atlanta neighborhood. The new 200,000 sf multi-use venue in the Summerhill area of Atlanta is the new home for the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and will also be used for large-scale academic and community events.
With a seating capacity of up to 8,000, the facility provides users with world-class amenities, including a club room and suites for attendees and locker rooms, nursing, and sports medicine rooms for student athletes. The design concept, “A Window to the City,” includes elements offering visitors a heightened sense of awareness and connection to their community and deliberately turns its focus to the surrounding neighborhood and the larger city beyond.
The detailing of the primary cladding system, an insulated metal panel system over a steel frame, aimed to create a clean façade expression incorporating glazing, ventilation, and entry without compromising its inherent economy or the simplicity of its overall effect. The new facility includes the latest in lighting technology, acoustics, and building control systems. Wayfinding is integrated into the facility’s design, giving a sleek finish. Masonry and cement flooring make for easy maintenance and cleaning, while floor-to-ceiling glass windows welcome natural light and offer guests a visual connection to the downtown Atlanta skyline.
The design team worked with a Perkins&Will research group to model glare, views, and direct sunlight infiltration for each seat and the playing floor. This work allowed for dramatic city views without affecting the usability of the facility.
As a hosting site for the 1996 Olympic Games and later the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball team, Summerhill was once a thriving and vibrant community that has since experienced years of neglect and isolation. The new Convocation Center will attract visitors to the area for numerous sporting and cultural events.
On the project team:
Owner: Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia; Georgia State University
Design architect: Perkins&Will
Architect of record: The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM)
MEP engineer: CBRE, Heery
Structural engineer: Walter P Moore
General contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie
Civil Engineer & Landscape Architect: Kimley-Horn
Related Stories
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 19, 2017
Construction of $2.6 billion L.A. football stadium delayed by heavy rains
The Rams and Chargers won’t be able to move in until the 2020 season.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 21, 2017
3D printed models bring new economic district in Detroit to life
The centerpiece is the scaled replica of a new arena that puts a miniature fan in every seat.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 21, 2017
Boston Celtics training and practice facility will be part of Boston Landing mixed-use development
The facility will also include two floors of Class A laboratory and office space and retail space.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 19, 2017
Mercedes-Benz Stadium delayed until late August
The stadium is now scheduled to open on Aug. 26 in a preseason game between the Falcons and the Jaguars.
Concrete | Apr 7, 2017
‘Cool’ pavement creates ice rink aesthetic outside NHL practice facility
The concrete contains unique colors, aggregates, and textures.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 5, 2017
Informed design: A dynamic approach to athletic facilities design
With the completion of the athletic facility upgrade—dubbed the Arden Project—students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 9, 2017
The construction of the Atlanta Braves’ new stadium, in 1 minute
OxBlue’s time-lapse video draws from more than 200,000 images.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Feb 27, 2017
Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena debuts a multipurpose event space
601 offers variety and flexibility not found in the arena’s other food and entertainment locations.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Feb 22, 2017
3XN Architects wins competition to design Swedish aquatic center
The Danish firm beat entries from Zaha Hadid Architects and Henning Larsen Architects for the project.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Feb 8, 2017
Dan Gilbert’s Rock Ventures proposes a land-for-jailhouse construction exchange
He would take over a downtown Detroit site, where he wants to build a soccer stadium, and build a new jail and courthouse about 1.5 miles away.
