Xavier University

Heidt Family Champions Center
XU Project Description

Imagine playing basketball in the park, but the weather is always pristine condition, and going for a slam dunk brings you above the tree line. You are comforted by the hospitality of the space where everything you need to play is just steps from the court.

Klekamp Family Training Center embodies this vision, allowing young athletes to further develop their physicality and mentality in a beautiful and safe space. Situated on the north side of the renowned Cintas Center at Xavier University, the space is a 23,000 square foot addition featuring a sleek wood practice court where athletes can refine their skills, a state-of-the-art fitness area to keep them in peak condition, and an expanded strength and conditioning zone to maximize their athletic potential.

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Revolutonizing Athletic Excellence

Student athletes can easily access these upgraded spaces, which include their locker rooms, training room, athlete lounge, and competition court, and equipped with top-of-the-line facilities all under one roof.

In its simplicity, the addition presents itself as an enclosed sanctuary, housing everything the next generation of athletes require to thrive. Positioned at the tree line, it provides seclusion from the bustling campus below, fostering a tranquil environment conducive to focus. Respectful of the existing facility’s character, the expansion seamlessly incorporates elements that complement its aesthetic. The northern façade, adorned with glazing, invites abundant natural light while vertical sunshade fins ensure protection, and an exterior lighting system elegantly illuminates the building’s exterior. The training center is a testament to thoughtful design that elevates both form and function to create an exceptional space for the athletes of tomorrow.

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XU-Heidt_Lounge

The Significance of Teamwork

The final building program and ultimate design was arrived upon after a great amount of dialogue with the building’s end users – student athletes, coaches, trainers, and athletic administrative staff. The vision and measures of success for the renovation were identified early and through client workshops, presentations, and internal design team collaboration a final planning concept, material pallet, and branding approach was developed and met with great approval by all stakeholders.

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The New Home for Xavier Olympic Sports

The client’s goal for this renovation project was to transform the University’s existing recreation center on the West Campus into the new home for their Olympic sport teams – soccer, baseball, swimming, and track & field.