Kline Center Renovation and Expansion – Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA
Construction Cost: $12.3 million
Area / Square Feet: 29,000
Occupancy Date: July 2014

The architectural design of the original Kline Athletic Center, built in 1980, was replicated on university campuses across the country during its era. The renovated and expanded Kline Center furthers this architectural legacy and is in many ways a building of complementary opposites. The center’s addition is designed to be the antithesis of the existing structure.

The new center is light as opposed to dark, open as opposed to closed, steel and glass as opposed to wood and stone. In this way, the exterior design announces a new era for the building and campus. 

The expansion added key fitness space, workout studios, athletics offices, a basketball arena, new locker rooms, squash courts and a natatorium. The building has helped Dickinson launch new intramural and recreation programming since its opening. The inclusion of a café, study spaces and an exterior plaza with benches and meeting areas draws students to the space and creates a new student hub at this end of campus.