The St. Raphael Academy Alumni Hall opened with a mission to change school athletics beyond the purpose of competitive sports. The new Athletic and Wellness Center replaces the existing gymnasium, built in the mid-1920s.
The primary design objectives were to support and enhance the school’s physical education, intramurals and athletic programs; establish a unifying architecture that is compatible with the historical character of the neighborhood; and build an environmentally sensitive athletic and recreation facility that is energy efficient and reduces operating costs.
An entrance lobby functions as a control point for building security and assembly space for after-hours school events. In order to maximize space efficiency, primary programmatic uses are located at the upper level, and support and locker room spaces are located at the lower level. At the core of the facility is the new gymnasium, which features a full-size basketball court, two overlapping courts, a full-size volleyball court and seating for 850 spectators. Located adjacent to the entrance, the gymnasium functions as an extension of the lobby, offering visitors views of the core of the facility. The building program also includes girls’ and boys’ team and physical education locker rooms, athletic faculty offi ces, a conference room, a trainer’s suite, a state-of-theart fi tness center and a multipurpose “smart” classroom.
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