Northwestern University recently opened the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Fieldhouse on the university’s Evanston campus. Perkins+Will designed the glass, metal, and stone complex that provides unobstructed views east and north toward Lake Michigan.
The multi-purpose center will provide year-round practice and training space for Northwestern student-athletes and includes Wilson Field, a practice field that can be used for football, lacrosse, or soccer. The fieldhouse dome was specifically designed to accommodate the kicking, punting, and functional needs of the athletic programs. A series of long-span steel arches correlate to the 10-yard grid of the football field below. The new facility will also serve as recreation and event space for campus programs like University convocations and the annual philanthropic Dance Marathon.
Photo: ©Steinkamp Photography. Courtesy of Perkins+Will.
“Our design goals were to make the most of the spectacular site overlooking Lake Michigan and create an exciting presence near the northern entry to the Evanston Campus,” says Perkins+Will Design Principal Bryan Schabel, in a statement about the project.
The views of Lake Michigan are provided by an all-glass north facade that also fills the space with natural light. Additionally, the Ryan Fieldhouse cantilevers out over the space below to maintain a pedestrian path along the lakefront. The Ryan Fieldhouse represents the first component of the $265 million Walter Athletics Center, also designed by Perkins+Will, which is scheduled to open this summer.
See Also: New living/learning facility at the University of Illinois at Chicago breaks ground
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Aug 21, 2022
Top 110 Architecture/Engineering Firms for 2022
Stantec, HDR, HOK, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 19, 2022
2022 Giants 400 Report: Tracking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
Now 46 years running, Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report rankings the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. This year a record 519 AEC firms participated in BD+C's Giants 400 report. The final report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 3, 2022
7 tips for designing fitness studios in multifamily housing developments
Cortland’s Karl Smith, aka “Dr Fitness,” offers advice on how to design and operate new and renovated gyms in apartment communities.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Aug 3, 2022
Chicago proposes three options for Soldier Field renovation including domed stadium
The City of Chicago recently announced design concepts for renovations to Soldier Field, the home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
Headquarters | Jun 21, 2022
Walmart combines fitness and wellness in associates’ center that’s part of its new Home Office plan
Duda | Paine’s design leads visitors on a “journey.”
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jun 17, 2022
U. of Georgia football facility expansion provides three floors for high-performance training
A major expansion of the University of Georgia’s football training facility has been completed.
Building Team | Jun 14, 2022
Thinking beyond the stadium: the future of district development
Traditional sports and entertainment venues are fading as teams and entertainment entities strive to move toward more diversified entertainment districts.
Acoustic Panels | Jun 9, 2022
A fitness center renovation in Calgary focuses on tamping the building’s sound and vibration
Bold Interior Design chose as its solution a lighting/acoustical panel combination.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 26, 2022
WNBA practice facility will offer training opportunities for female athletes and youth
The Seattle Storm’s Center for Basketball Performance will feature amenities for community youth, including basketball courts, a nutrition center, and strength and conditioning training spaces.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 19, 2022
Northern Arizona University opens a new training center for its student athletes
In Flagstaff, Ariz. Northern Arizona University (NAU) has opened its new Student-Athlete High Performance Center.