Page 39 - College Planning & Management, May 2018

Facility Focus SPORTS AND ATHLETICS
Coe College
Athletic and Recreational Complex
A TRANSFORMATIVE $18 million renovation and
expansion project has created a dynamic new student venue for fitness
and recreation on the north quad of the Coe College campus in Cedar Rapids, IA. The ambitious project modernized the 1930s-era Eby Fieldhouse and incorpo- rated new multipurpose courts and locker rooms within the historic structure. New construction included a 2,000-seat per- formance arena, an athletic weight room, a wrestling space and fitness area, and a fitness bridge that extends across College Drive and connects to the existing Clark Racquet Center.
Dewberry, as the architectural, interior
design, and structural engineering consul- tant, was challenged with three primary objectives: provide each Coe College athlete with a dedicated locker space, increase the amount of court space for practices and intramurals, and better utilize the exist- ing buildings. The resourceful solution included a wrap-around, 70,000-square- foot addition that hides an aged but still functional 1970s-era natatorium along the eastern side of the fieldhouse. The cohesive design gives prominence to the investment in the new addition, and creates a vibrant network of student resources that proudly displays the Kohawk spirit.
The project provided the opportunity to establish two new main entrances to the
complex. Along the southern façade, facing the campus, a three-story glass cube was in- serted between the new weight room and the wrestling space and fitness center. The en- trance serves as an illuminated focal point for students and affords clear views to the branding inside. Along the eastern façade,
a large angled canopy welcomes crowds
into the upper concourse of the new arena. The bridge over College Drive enables the fitness space to flow from the new fieldhouse addition into the racquet center and allows the athletic facilities to function together. The prominent location of the addition and the glass-enclosed bridge serve as a visible expression of the college’s ongoing commit- menttoathleticprograms. CPM
MAY 2018 / COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT 39
PHOTOS © MARK BALLOGG, COURTESY OF DEWBERRY