O'Connell Athletic Center | University of Saint Joseph

West Hartford, Connecticut
Construction Cost: $14.3 million
Area / Square Feet: 33,232 SF
Occupancy Date: June 2021

The University of Saint Joseph sought to expand the school’s existing O’Connell Athletic Center and transform it into a flexible multisport training and competition venue that would accommodate existing and new university programs. The private Catholic university — formerly St. Joseph’s College — became co-educational in 2018. As part of the institution’s efforts to adapt its offerings to a more diverse campus population and expand its reputation in NCAA Division III athletics, the O’Connell Center was identified as a facility in need of immediate expansion.

Opened in 2020, the expanded O’Connell Center has already allowed the university to strengthen recruitment activities and to expand the number of varsity sports. In addition to serving the needs of USJ athletics, the new 32,232-square-foot facility includes the university’s Campus Health and Wellness Center and an 800-person capacity Division III gymnasium. Located directly across from the Student Center, the O’Connell Center expansion was designed to bring a new and dynamic form to a campus largely comprised of traditional red brick New England architecture. The resulting design marries the red brick materiality and yellow doorways that are a hallmark of all buildings on campus with sleek and modern glass forms, clean lines, cantilevers and projections. Expansive windows animate the facade and highlight the activity taking place within. University colors of blue and yellow are integrated into the exterior glass to add another layer of connection and visual excitement. The facility establishes a new and energetic visual focus at the northern end of the USJ campus.

With its distinctive visual sensibility, the O’Connell Center has enabled the university to enhance its programmatic offerings, welcome game-day visitors and fans, and more fully support the health and wellness of the USJ campus community.

ARCHITECT OF RECORD

JCJ Architecture

Hartford, Conn.

PROJECT VENDORS

Locker/Shower - Shower/Toilet Partitions

ASI Group

Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Sound Systems

Community Application Solutions

Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Scoreboards/Timing Systems

Daktronics

Indoor Sports Surfaces - Multipurpose

Dalene Flooring

Locker/Shower - Flooring

Dalene Flooring

Fitness Center - Flooring, Fitness Center

Dalene Flooring

Laundry - Dryers

Daniels Equipment

Laundry - Washers

Daniels Equipment

Locker/Shower - Lockers

GearBoss/Wenger Corp.

Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Folding Chairs

Insalco Corp.

Training Facilities - Taping/Treatment Tables

Insalco Corp.

Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Bleachers/Grandstands

Interkal

Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Basketball Backboards/Supports

Jaypro Sports

Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Volleyball Nets and Standards

Jaypro Sports

Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment

Matrix Fitness

Fitness Center - Strength Equipment

Matrix Fitness

Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Scorers Tables

Nevco Inc. 

Fitness Center - Free-Weight Equipment

New England Fitness

Fitness Center - Strength Equipment

New England Fitness

Training Facilities - Taping/Treatment Tables

ProTeam

Gymnasium/Field House/Arena - Lighting

Rexel Hubbell

Indoor Sports Surfaces - Basketball

Robbins Sports Surfaces

Indoor Sports Surfaces - Volleyball

Robbins Sports Surfaces

Training Facilities - Hydrotherapy Tanks

Whitehall Manufacturing