Louisiana
State
University —
Basketball
Practice
Flexible scheduling for the LSU basketball programs is one of the primary goals for this 58,960 SF addition to the University's existing Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Both the men's and women's teams benefit with beautiful separate full-sized practice gymnasiums.
Each gym provides 11,300 square feet to include regulation NCAA courts replicating the competition court. Each gymnasium also provides two regulation high school cross courts serving the needs of youth basketball camps. Technology includes scoreboards for all courts, a video filming balcony and a scorer's table with video and data connection. Between the two gymnasiums, the main entry lobby tells the story of LSU Basketball with large environmental graphics, banners, electronic media and trophies. The trophy display is integrated with the design of the stair, as the stair rail posts transform to form the lower level's glass display enclosure. The stair provides access to a second level multi-function room that holds 500+ people for pre and post game functions. From there, users access the main concourse of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, LSU's competition arena. The exterior character of this addition takes cues from the existing arena. As expressed on the original facility, the structural ribs were crafted on the building's exterior envelope to relate to the arena's original rhythm and form. The roof shape and massing were designed to reference the dome's curvature. Designed in collaboration with Holden Architects.