Thorntons Academic Center of Excellence, University of Louisville

Louisville, KY
Construction Cost: 14.48 million
Area / Square Feet: 49,489 SF
Occupancy Date: August 2016

The University of Louisville’s Thorntons Academic Center of Excellence serves as the home for the athletic department’s academic services staff and outreach programs. The building is prominently located at the south end of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium beneath Norton Terrace, providing easy access for all of the school’s 650 student-athletes. It features individual tutor rooms, learning labs, group study areas, classroom space, offices, computer labs and dining areas.

The new building was conceived as a quality “end” to the existing stadium, providing a high-finish glass facility where previously exposed stadium supporting structure had stood. The two-story structure’s first floor is actually 24 feet above ground level, in part to retain the openness of the existing stadium concourse. Quieter programming spaces are located upstairs, with group functions and meeting spaces downstairs. Stair towers are integrated with the existing facilities on the terrace above, creating a holistic composition with the overall south stadium facade.

The central space features a swirling suspended light feature consisting of eight-foot “light sticks” complementing the video feature wall, while other areas throughout the facility are lit with high-efficiency LED fixtures. A subdued color scheme of grays and whites allows University Red to be a spark within appropriate spaces.