Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Cincinnati: Sheakley Athletics Center

  • 03/01/15
Sheakley Athletics Center

PHOTOS © JOE HARRISON, JH PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

For the University of Cincinnati’s (UC) Intercollegiate Athletics program to remain competitive in the field and classroom, recruit the best athletes/coaching staff and position itself for athletic conference realignment, it needed an additional on-campus training facility. The challenge for this land-locked urban university was to think “outside the box” when developing a new outdoor practice facility large enough to provide adequate space for both outdoor and indoor training.

The complex, designed by MSA Sport (a division of MSA Architects, with offices in Cincinnati and Columbus, OH) includes a full-regulation field, a half practice field, team meeting rooms, press/coaches box, filming tower and fan amenities. From March through November the complex is a football practice facility and a women’s lacrosse competition stadium with full spectator functions and 1,000 seats. During the off-season, an inflatable dome, aka “the bubble,” is installed, allowing for year-round use.

This combination of an outdoor “gameready” facility and indoor “all-purpose” facility is unprecedented in the Midwest for an NCAA Division 1 university. The resulting complex not only benefits the football and lacrosse programs, but also the entire student-athlete population, allowing them easy access to the complex from the UC’s Varsity Village.

While athletics played a significant role in program development, overall integration into the Master Plan and academic goals of the university was essential, including:

  • Providing a “first class” venue to allow athletes to train, compete and succeed at the highest level while being close to the heart of the academic and residence-life heart of campus.
  • Rigid competition facility dimension specifications.
  • Full vehicle and pedestrian access that can be closed during practices and games for maximum efficiency.
  • Integration of public spaces, campus and urban framework around the facility edges.
  • A 60-foot topographic elevation change.
  • Incorporating a 5,000,000-gallon chilled water storage tank under the half practice field, thereby saving UC $1 million per year in utility costs.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • Dallas-Area District Debuts Three New Facilities

    The Duncanville Independent School District in southwest Dallas, Texas, recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new facilities that resulted from a $170-million bond program passed in 2023, according to a news release.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.