The Phoenix Mercury’s state-of-the-art WNBA practice facility is proof that locker room branding doesn’t have to take the form of massive team logos inlaid into the carpeting underfoot or backlit in the ceiling overhead. Upon first glance, the space may not appear like a locker room at all, with its custom-milled, closed-door lockers creating a clean visual that speaks sophistication. But take a closer look and you’ll notice subtle nods to science — inspired by the Mercury name. Each locker is flanked by a full-length mirror illuminated by dimmable, arching light fixtures that span the entire space. The reflective nature of the mirrors coupled with the metallic finish of specified ceiling panels suggest mercury’s quicksilver nature. Moreover, locker mirrors are identified by magnetic player initials (one upper case, one lower case) and numbers designed to mimic the periodic table of elements. Inspiration aside, the room never loses sight of its female-first focus and functionality. The French doors of each locker retract into pockets when open to maintain the uncluttered aesthetic, and ventilated locker interiors include bars and hooks at varying heights, cubbies large enough to accommodate handbags, and space for up to 10 pairs of shoes, regardless of size. “I had the privilege to work with owners who said, ‘This doesn’t have to be like the typical locker room you’ve been seeing,’ ” says Gensler architect Susan Han. “We drew the concept from multiple directions. One was Mercury as a planet — the orbit paths, the stars — and the idea that the facility is its own universe centered around the athletes. And secondly, we drew inspiration from looking at mercury as an element, which is quicksilver. You see a lot of chrome in this building, and that’s all drawn from the quicksilver element mercury.”
