lounge feature full-height glass walls that open directly onto the field. A bold orange portal marks the entry to the “hype tunnel” between the field and the locker room. Custom lockers, showcasing player jerseys and a tiger stripe motif in Clemson purple, are illuminated by panels that divide niches for hanging lacrosse sticks. Tunable track lights run along the underside of an uplit pan ceiling, while warm wood softens the textured white tile and frames a wide clerestory window above the vanity in the bathroom. The stands and press box at the lacrosse stadium mimic the form of the adjacent buildings, but aligned with its function, the massing promotes views to the artificial turf competition field and lake views beyond. The stadium includes 1,000 spectator seats, spaces for concessions, restrooms and locker rooms for visiting teams and officials. The woods beyond slope down to Lake Hartwell and offer a unique backdrop to the athletic field. “Our facility is more than we could have ever dreamed of,” said Allison Kwolek, Clemson Lacrosse Head Coach. “Everything about it has been better than expected. For a young program to have a world-class facility like this is a game changer for recruiting top student athletes. The design team was genuine in wanting to know our thoughts and put an incredible effort into transforming our ideas into a meaningful and beautiful design.” In February 2024, just one month after the ribbon cutting, the stadium hosted the team’s season opener, which the Tigers won decisively.
Clemson is the only school in the country with a performance and stadium facility solely dedicated to women’s lacrosse. The rowing facility was upgraded with a new sports medicine area that features taping tables, hydrotherapy, and administration offices. The most innovative aspect of the project is the first-of-its-kind, 10,000-square-foot Athlete Recovery Center, a retreat for all Clemson student-athletes to engage in mental and physical wellness practices in an environment that emphasizes recovery and community. “Athlete performance centers usually have the lion’s share of square footage dedicated to cardio and strength training, with recovery off to the side,” Maxwell explained. “The idea behind Clemson’s Athlete Recovery Center is that it’s a place to come take a breath, to retreat from the mental and physical rigors of their day-to-day lives, where they are always trying to get faster, stronger, and smarter, and take time to relax and truly recover.” Acknowledging the need to serve the whole individual, the project team incorporated a large yoga space and the latest recovery equipment, including dry and wet float tanks, TheraLight beds, sleep pods, massage chairs, and cryogenic chambers. Coaches, doctors, and sports psychologists have offices on-site, and the building is positioned to take advantage of the view to Lake Hartwell. The recovery center also plays host to programs that focus on furthering Clemson student- athletes’ holistic development.
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WINTER 2024
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