Louisiana State University Basketball Practice Facility

Baton Rouge, La.
Construction Cost: $14.3 million
Area / Square Feet: 60,060
Occupancy Date: August 2010

This facility includes separate, full-size practice gymnasiums — replicas of the university’s competition court that also include two high school-size cross courts to accommodate camps — for the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Each gymnasium also features scoreboards, a video filming balcony and a scorer’s table with video and data connections.

Between the two gymnasiums, the main entry lobby features large environmental graphics, banners, electronic media and trophies that tell the story of LSU basketball. A stairway that integrates a glass display enclosure on the lower level leads to a second-level, 500-person-capacity multifunction room that provides access to the main concourse of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, LSU’s competition arena.

Beyond the main lobby on the first level, a more secure area for student-athletes, coaches, staff and press is provided. A secondary lobby serves the needs of players and coaches while also providing breakout space from practice gymnasiums and the dedicated basketball press room. Beyond that secondary lobby is the state-of-the-art men’s basketball suite.

While environmental graphics help define the interior design, convey LSU’s brand and provide great value in student recruitment, the exterior character of the addition takes cues from the existing arena, as the structural ribs crafted on the exterior envelope relate to the arena’s original rhythm and form.