Southern Methodist University — Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports Renovation and Expansion
Dallas, Texas
Year in Showcase: 2009
Project Description
For more than a decade, Southern Methodist University espoused the benefits of renovating the Dedman Center. These benefits are now reality.
The new center is a stunning contrast to the original. From the brick and cast-stone entrance rotunda to thesunlit heart of the building, the center is open, airy and easy to navigate, and invites participation with dramaticviews and well-connected interior spaces. Granite floors, cherry wood columns, and Armourcoat wall surfaces create an earthy, warm and classical environment.
Designers incorporated the university’s Georgian architecture into the recreation center. The domed copper-clad rotunda mimics several building shapes on campus, providing continuity, but its open-air concept is unique among campus buildings. The centerpiece of the building is the 40-foot climbing wall, which is framed by cherry columns and four indoor court spaces. The gymnasia are surrounded by the 1/6-mile jogging track, which was expanded from its original narrow, short and tight-radiusconfi guration. The courts are augmented with a multipurpose activity court for soccer and other sports.
Opening up and providing natural light to the dungeon-like existing building was an important design decision. Punching windows into the old building opened up the interior while providing aesthetic exterior symmetry.
Project Details
Associate Architect: RDG Planning & Design; Des Moines, Iowa
Architect of Record: Hahnfeld Hoffer Stanford; Ft. Worth, Texas
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Aquatic Design Engineer: CT Brannon Corporation; Tyler, Texas
Construction Cost: $24.1 million
Square Feet: 65,000 (new), 80,000 (renovation)
Occupancy: May 2006
Vendors
Access Ramps/Stairs:
Spectrum Aquatics
Basketball Backboards/Supports:
Draper Inc.
Climbing Walls:
Entre Prises Climbing Walls
Dashers:
Becker Arena Products Inc.
Dehumidifiers:
Harmsco Filtration Products
Divider Curtains:
Draper Inc.
Elliptical Equipment:
Cybex International Inc.
Elliptical Equipment:
Life Fitness
Elliptical Equipment:
Precor Incorporated
Filters:
Nemato Corp.
Flooring, Aerobics:
Robbins Sports Surfaces
Free Weight Equipment:
Cybex International Inc.
Free Weight Equipment:
Hammer Strength
Free Weight Equipment:
Power Lift
Free Weight Equipment:
Quantum Fitness Corp.
Gutters:
Superior Swim Systems Inc.
Heaters:
Dectron Inc.
Rowers:
Concept2 CTS Inc.
Scoreboards/Timing Systems:
Fair-Play Scoreboards
Skylights:
Structures Unlimited Inc.
Sound Systems:
Community Professional Loudspeakers
Stair Climbers:
StairMaster Health & Fitness Products Inc.
Stationary Bikes:
Life Fitness
Strength Equipment:
Cybex International Inc.
Strength Equipment:
FreeMotion Fitness
Strength Equipment:
Life Fitness
Strength Equipment:
Quantum Fitness Corp.
Surface:
Robbins Sports Surfaces
Surfaces, Basketball:
Robbins Sports Surfaces
Surfaces, Multipurpose:
Robbins Sports Surfaces
Surfaces, Track:
Robbins Sports Surfaces
Treadmills:
Icon Health & Fitness
Treadmills:
Star Trac
Volleyball Nets and Standards:
Sports Imports (Senoh)
