The Player Development Center provides the first dedicated practice space for University of Michigan men's and women's basketball. A two-court practice gym is surrounded by cardio fitness, strength and conditioning, hydrotherapy, training and video review areas. Rather than being spread out horizontally, the plan includes stacked elements. The office level accommodates men's and women's coaching staff and administrative support functions. Storage, laundry, team lockers, team rooms, coaches' locker rooms and the lobby, incorporating team memorabilia and Hall of Fame materials, complete the project.
School colors of maize and blue are represented in subtle but ever-present ways. The lobby's "Day in the Life Wall" is a collection of historic photos, each representing an aspect of life on campus and the experience of playing basketball at the university, while the iconic block "M" is backlit for halo effect. Likewise, the gymnasiums are dressed up with graphics and special lighting.
Exterior materials such as brick and cast stone harmonize with the design vocabulary of the adjacent Crisler Arena and nearby Michigan Stadium. However, the PDC's corner lobby uses light, reflective materials such as glass, aluminum and metal panels. The roof level matches the elevation of the existing concourse in the Crisler Arena, where both games and practices had previously been held, and an underground tunnel links the PDC to Crisler's competition floor.