Facility Focus

University Of Saint Joseph Expands O'Connell Athletic Center

• By James LaPosta
• 08/01/22

The University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn., engaged JCJ Architecture to renovate and expand the school’s existing O’Connell Athletic Center into a flexible, multi-sport arena and venue to accommodate existing and new university programs. The private Catholic university — formerly St. Joseph’s College — became co-educational in 2018 and is undergoing a transformation as it incorporates men into its programs, increases the number of varsity sports and expands its offerings to the wider campus. The new, 31,277-square-foot facility hinges on health and wellness and serves as a multifunctional nexus of student activity that extends beyond traditional athletic programs.

As JCJ Architecture’s fourth new building for the campus, the project is a continuation of a longstanding collaborative relationship between the firm and the university. The university selected JCJ Architecture to spearhead the project as the need to expand its existing single-gender athletic facilities became apparent following the integration of men into the student body. Furthermore, the school’s leadership wanted a facility that would benefit the full campus community and provide social opportunities outside of athletics. The design is accessible for pedestrians and creates a stronger connection to the central part of the campus, eliminating the parking lot that had previously set the building apart. Additionally, the facility is situated directly across the street from the Student Center, creating a central hub for student activity.

JCJ Architecture spearheaded the architecture and interiors of the new facility. The firm sought to reconcile the traditional red brick colonial aesthetic of the existing campus buildings with the modern and dynamic new facility that would signal the institution’s commitment to reinvention. The resulting design marries the red brick materiality and yellow doorways that are a hallmark of all buildings on campus with sleek and modern glass forms, clean lines, cantilevers and projections. Expansive windows animate the façade and highlight the activity taking place within. The university’s colors, blue and yellow, are integrated into the exterior glass to add another layer of connection and visual excitement. The facility as a whole establishes an energetic visual focus at the end of the campus.

The entrance to the building is awash with natural light that streams in through the south-facing windows, which are outfitted with sun screens and shading overhangs. The emphasis on natural light and warm wood paneling extends a warm welcome to visitors, while the large windows enhance a visual connection to the campus. Interior finishes such as sports branding and a wooden trophy wall tie in a sense of athletic excitement to differentiate the guest experience from that of other buildings on campus. The main lobby is a light, airy and flexible concourse that serves as both a ticketing and concessions area for game nights and a comfortable space with high-top tables and casual furniture for students to study or socialize. The multifunctionality of the lobby underscores the central theme of flexibility.

From the outset of the project, the program hinged on the creation of a full, NCAA-regulation basketball court. The wooden ceiling elements in the lobby continue into the central gymnasium and wrap around the interiors, providing seamless connectivity between the spaces. Four state-of-the-art gender-neutral locker rooms are usable by different teams as the seasons change. Further highlighting the central tenets of connectivity and flexibility are athletic staff offices with visual access to the court and a skybox seating area overlooking the arena, which can function as both a VIP space and an additional classroom. To widen the appeal and usership of the facility, multiple training rooms provide opportunities for competitive athletes to train as well as the larger student body to exercise. Additionally, the student health services suite, formerly housed in a smaller outlying building, now resides on the ground floor of the new facility, emphasizing a focus on wellness.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of Spaces4Learning.