The Rasmussen Fitness & Sports Center is an integral part of the Creighton Master Plan, which called for a sports venue village to redefine the eastern end of campus, a formerly blighted area with abandoned buildings. Creighton was able to acquire these available properties over time, allowing campus expansion while improving safety and surroundings for both the university and the City of Omaha.
Cognizant of staffing and operational needs, the design team worked through all aspects of building management to create a venue that could be staffed daily by one professional staff member supported by three student employees. The key to streamlining staffing included the placement of one central control desk at the main level and strategically locating other recreation staff offices to minimize staff while maintaining adequate supervision for safety and access.
The center consists of an indoor field house with synthetic turf and 60-foot-high ceilings surrounded by a two-lane elevated running track, a fitness and weight center, locker rooms and storage areas.
The field house also features two bottom-lift batting/golf cages and TRX core fitness equipment for softball and baseball training. After hours, the building supports the Creighton ROTC program, and future plans will open the field house to community use.
Harold Alfond Forum - University of New England
