The Gryphons Athletics Centre is located at the heart of the University of Guelph’s transforming Athletic and Wellness Precinct on campus, connecting the existing Powell Building, Mitchell Centre and Alumni Stadium. At the center of this transformation, the Gryphons Athletics Centre renovates the existing Mitchell Centre — built in 1957 — and forms a new prominent pedestrian entrance at the termination of the heavily foot-trafficked Reynolds Walk. The new complex satisfies the athletic and academic needs of the university and Guelph community, acting as a venue for major sporting, social, cultural and conference events.
The expansion includes a state-of-the art fitness center with a club-like atmosphere, a triple gymnasium/event center with retractable bowl seating for 2,000, a running track with an additional 400 viewing spaces, student and varsity change rooms, a climbing wall and program spaces to accommodate recreation, intramurals, fitness instruction and varsity activity, as well as student and community gathering space.
Innovative branding utilizes the Gryphons logo and color scheme, emphasizing patterns of student circulation and providing simple and clear wayfinding throughout the complex. Gryphon Athletics Red denotes the main public circulation path, as well as the processional route of the varsity athletes — stitching together training and competition program spaces and the varsity team rooms and locker areas, and making a clear statement to visiting teams that they have entered Gryphon territory. The bold color contrasts with the surrounding neutral palette of materials and finishes to offer wayfinding cues for the public.
