After five years of national ranking for both the Men’s and Women’s Norse Soccer programs compounded with an institutional repositioning to compete at higher NCAA levels, Northern Kentucky University sought to create an inspirational and nationally recognized collegiate venue to further enhance its students’ athletic success.
The new Service building is the heart of the stadium complex as it houses all of the most important functions of the arena while the adjacent large entry plaza is accessed by a gently sloping pathway that connects the new stadium to the existing 8,000-seat bank of Kentucky Center arena. Together, the NKU Stadium and the bank of Kentucky Center arena complete a central hub for Norse Athletics at the NKU campus entrance.
Designed to exude energy throughout the campus, dramatic shapes in simple compositions emphasize strength and movement in reflection of the surrounding landscape and redirect views to the entry portal and field of play beyond.
As a testament to the University’s focus on excellence in the soccer program and the successful design of this new facility, the Norse Men’s Team won the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship in the NKU Soccer Stadium’s inaugural season.
