Armstrong Gymnasium and Chicoine Events Center – Chadron State College

Chadron, NE
Construction Cost: $14.6 million
Area / Square Feet: 73,000
Occupancy Date: November 2014

The Armstrong Gymnasium and Chicoine Events Center is a vibrant hub for sports, physical therapy and campus life at Chadron State College. The 110,000-square-foot facility features a 1,750-seat arena for basketball and volleyball, a large strength and conditioning center, locker rooms, a sports medicine clinic and administrative offices. Special consideration was made to ensure the facility fit in with other campus facilities, integrating it within the larger community.

Envisioned as an arena that would bring Division I energy to the Division II school, the Chicoine Events Center balances intimacy and performance. Pulling tricks from the professional sports playbook, the arena uses a top-loading design to bring fans close to the court for a dynamic, high-energy experience.

A collaborative design process trans­formed the aging 1964 basketball gym and natatorium into a dynamic campus hub. After a programming study found poor usage rates and a high cost of upkeep for the Olympic-size natatorium, the space was repurposed as a cutting-edge training complex that overlooks Chadron’s football stadium. The new entry courtyard serves as a gathering place for pregame events at both the football stadium and basketball arena. Now, the facility serves as a key feature in recruiting, development and community-engagement strategies.