At the intersection of business, sports and social change lies the Seattle Storm: four-time WNBA champions and elite basketball franchise dedicated to creating space for women. Driven to change the narrative about women’s sports, the ownership group funded a new state-of-the-art professional basketball performance center — the first of its kind — creating a true home for the Storm. The two-story Seattle Storm Center resets expectations for what female professional athletes and, more broadly, all girls and women deserve — a space where they are not the afterthoughts, but the entire story.
The public lobby welcomes staff, patrons, business partners and community members with environmental graphics that highlight the Storm’s brand and competitive ethos. Descending from the split-level entry, guests will find a stadium stair designed with reclaimed panels from the team’s championship court f looring. Two full-size basketball courts are the heart of the building, with key athlete spaces visually and physically connected. Maple court floors and strategically placed, two-story windows create a warm and well-lit environment for practice. The player spaces are housed on the f irst floor, with administration and coaches’ offices on the upper level.
The player level includes practice courts, locker rooms, athletic training and performance areas, strength and conditioning rooms, and recovery spaces such as the hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room. A kitchen and dining spaces also are found on this level.
With a streamlined program that eliminates corridors and dedicates every inch of space to the needs of players, this facility delivers on form and function. Adjacencies in the building focus on player flow and efficiently guiding people where they need to be, greater visibility for coaches and trainers to improve safety, and a better sense of connectedness and focus amongst the team.
Architect of Record
ZGF Architects
Seattle, Wash.
Associate Architect
Shive-Hattery Architecture + Engineering
Tacoma, Wash.
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