Lakepoint Sports Champions Center

Lakepoint Sports Champions Center

One floor, multiple games

Walk into the space and the scale is immediate, but what matters more is what that scale allows.

Twenty-four volleyball courts can operate at once. Scoreboards hang above each one. Movement happens in every direction without interruption. There are no columns breaking up play, no compromises in layout, no adjustments required to make the space work.

That level of flexibility starts with a single decision: Remove anything that limits how the floor can be used.

Building the space around the game

The structure spans 260 feet, creating a fully open interior that supports simultaneous play across all courts. This clear span is not just a structural achievement. It defines how the building performs.

Above the courts, a suspended system carries retractable equipment and 24 scoreboards. Instead of placing loads on the floor or introducing additional supports, the structure carries everything overhead. This keeps the playing surface open and adaptable, allowing configurations to shift based on the event.

The result is a facility that can host tournaments, practices and large-scale events without reconfiguring the building itself.

Supporting that span required coordination across multiple systems. The rigid frame and continuous beam framework together to distribute loads efficiently, while the roof system provides the structural depth needed to carry suspended elements.

This integration ensures that the building performs as a system, not a collection of parts.

Seeing the space differently

Not all activity happens at floor level.

A 20,000-square-foot mezzanine provides elevated views across the courts, giving spectators, coaches and staff a different perspective on the action below. From this vantage point, the scale of the facility becomes even more apparent and more useful.

The mezzanine is not an afterthought. It is integrated into the structure, supported by systems designed to handle both load and movement without affecting the space below.

A 50-foot enclosed tower adds another dimension to the building, serving as a visual marker while also supporting internal functions. It anchors the facility within its surroundings and reinforces its presence on campus.

These elements extend the building vertically, adding function without interfering with the primary space.

Materials that support performance and identity

While the interior is defined by openness, the exterior reflects a balance between durability and architectural intent.

Panel Rib™ and ThermaClad™ wall systems provide consistent performance, supporting thermal efficiency and long-term durability. These systems are selected for how they perform over time, maintaining the building envelope while reducing maintenance demands.

Stone and glass elements are incorporated to create variation and connect the facility to the broader campus aesthetic. These materials introduce contrast and scale, ensuring that the building reflects its purpose without appearing oversized or out of place.

The roof system, combining Deck-Frame™ and SSR™ assemblies, supports both structural demands and weather protection. Together, these systems create a building envelope designed to perform under the demands of daily use and large-scale events.

Coordinating for scale and flexibility

Projects at this scale require more than structural capability. They require alignment between design intent, engineering execution and construction sequencing.

Working with Abuck, Inc., a Varco Pruden^™ Builder, the project team coordinated each phase to ensure that systems worked together as intended. Structural requirements for the clear span, suspended loads and mezzanine were addressed early, allowing construction to move forward with clarity.

This coordination ensured that the building could support its full range of uses from day one. There was no need to adapt the space after completion. It was designed to perform from the start.

A facility that expands possibility

The completed facility delivers more than capacity. It provides flexibility.

With the largest single hardwood floor in the United States, the building supports a wide range of athletic and recreational activities within a single environment. It allows multiple programs to operate at once, maximizing use without compromise.

More importantly, it gives the university a space that can adapt as needs change. Whether hosting large tournaments or daily training sessions, the building responds without requiring modification.

For the project team, the outcome reflects a clear approach: design around how the space will be used, coordinate systems to support that use and deliver a building that remains flexible over time.

In a facility like this, the structure does more than hold the roof. It defines what is possible underneath it.