Leo D. Mahoney Arena is a multipurpose venue in the heart of Fairfield’s campus that serves as home for Stags basketball and volleyball, as well as concerts, commencements and other events, providing a hub of activity for students and the local community.
Three sides of exterior glass provide exciting views into events and out toward campus. Natural light modeling was used to detail the arena’s glass and eaves to maximize natural light while eliminating direct sun on the court surface. The building’s compressed footprint fits a constrained site. Audiences are brought closer to the action with two decks of tiered seating — 2,400 seats in the lower bowl and 1,100 in the upper deck — providing more intimacy for staged events and a din of excitement for Stags games.
Structural details, graphics and ornamentation throughout celebrate the university’s branding. The design pays homage to Mahoney Arena’s beloved but outdated 1959 predecessor through the new venue’s curved roof shape, graphic wall textures based on the original’s concrete block construction, and a center court medallion preserved and placed in the lobby.
Architect of Record
Centerbrook Architects and Planners
Centerbrook, Conn.
Suppliers
San Bruno Recreation and Aquatic Center
