Project Description:
This project is the second phase of the Athletics Master Plan and includes the construction of a new Football Operations Building adjacent to the Welsh Indoor Practice Facility at the artificial turf field. The first phase of the Athletics Master Plan was completed in 2020 and consisted of two new grass practice football fields, a football storage building, modifications to Welsh Indoor Practice Facility and a portion of the new pedestrian promenade.
The project site is bound to the north by the east McCue parking lot, to the east by Emmet Street, to the south by Welsh Indoor Practice Facility and to the west by the new grass training fields. The project will demolish the existing artificial turf training field and modify the under-field drainage system and erect a two story, 78,000 square foot training facility for student-athletes including locker rooms, strength and conditioning spaces, nutrition spaces, team meeting spaces, sports medicine areas for treatment and recovery, as well as coaches’ offices, video operations, and building support spaces. The outdoor spaces between the proposed building and Welsh to the south and the practice fields to the west will stay artificial turf but also provide fire access. The existing Football nutrition trailer to the east of the McCue Center building will also be removed, along with the utility services to the trailer. The project will also provide a portion of the new pedestrian promenade from the Goodwin Bridge and connect into the portion installed during the Phase 1 project. The site is currently flat and the elevation is above the east McCue parking lot. It will be accessible from the parking lot. Great care and coordination will be needed during construction to allow the surrounding practice facilities to stay operational.
The new facility is designed to provide student-athletes with a safe and effective training environment with connections to both the new outdoor training fields and the Welsh Indoor Practice Facility. The proposed facility represents the second phase of redevelopment of the Athletics district masterplan and will replace existing Athletics facilities that are undersized, outdated, and in need of improvements. The new Football Operations building will be state-of-the-art, comprehensive, training center that will address needs of UVA student-athletes, coaches, and administrative staff.