Perspectives August 26, 2022

How design supports a more holistic approach to training

For today’s college athletes, training is no longer about cramming team practices and weight lifting sessions in between classes.

By Jennifer Williams, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, Well AP, Fitwel Ambassador, Senior Associate, Senior Interior Project Designer

Many NCAA programs are expressing a desire for a holistic approach to performance—one that thoughtfully integrates nutrition, mental health, sports medicine, hydrotherapy, diagnostics, sleep, recovery, and sport-specific strength and conditioning—all working in sync to improve athletes’ performance in the classroom and on game day.

Training facilities have evolved in response. Over the last decade, the facilities themselves have become a tool to better address the demands of players and coaches. So, how does the built environment fit into this picture? It’s an essential piece of the puzzle. Athletic directors, facility managers, training staff, and designers can enable their athletic facilities to do more for their athletes by considering three key design elements:

Location, Location, Location
Transparency: See and be seen
Interior design: The finishing touch

At Yale University, a single point of entry to the entire performance suite—containing strength, nutrition, athletic medicine, and hydrotherapy—indicates that performance is not made up of individual departments; it requires a holistic approach to student-athlete care. Co-location also increases efficiencies for time-crunched athletes by conveniently locating pre-and post-workout fuel options on their way out to the field or up to the locker room.

Location

Historically, sports medicine has been tucked away—often without daylight—within larger athletic facilities. Nutrition has only recently started to be integrated into a student-athlete’s routine over the past five years. Likewise, mental health services, and even having dedicated licensed professionals on staff, is only just debuting on many college campuses.

The weight room has had its glory, and it is undoubtedly a critical part of athlete training and development. But we know now that athletic medicine, nutrition, and mental health services are essential pieces of the puzzle. We must consider all facets of student athlete performance and then co-locate those content areas for efficiency, convenience, and education to encourage the highest and best use of student-athletes’ limited time and energy.

Transparency

Visually connecting these program elements enables athletes to physically see the holistic care they are receiving and instill confidence in their coaching and training staff. Transparency supports team cohesion at all levels of athlete health and performance: Strategic moments of glazing throughout a facility can help to celebrate the moments of physical demand—a new personal record in the weight room—and recovery—a teammate making strides in their injury rehabilitation journey. It can help encourage athletes to use the full spectrum of services, and make the spaces feel more approachable at the same time.

Privacy is of the utmost importance, and this remains unchanged considering the sensitive nature of health and personal development. There are ways to maintain a feeling of openness and welcoming environment while letting students know their individual privacy is not being compromised:

Strategically incorporate film on glass into an area where some privacy is needed. Bonus: this can be an opportunity for brand activation and culture building
Provide flexible consultation rooms that can be double as offices or be available for private conversations
Utilize curtain areas for individual comfort control
Incorporate translucent materials to maximize daylight where transparency is not appropriate

Views of practice and competition facilities also helps student-athletes visualize their game-day performance during training and injury rehab. Why not celebrate progress, victories, camaraderie by connecting student-athletes and teams visually between interior spaces, between the outside and inside…

At Yale, Reese Stadium is visible throughout the entire performance suite. Not only does this help student athletes visualize their own success, but it also helps injured athletes remain visually connected to their team during practice or performance. It also introduces a sense of connectedness throughout the entire athletic department as athletes from various teams watch each other train and compete.

At Yale, contrasting material palettes of raw and refined signal which spaces are for diligent work, and which are for hospitality and performance. In the Performance Lab, the exposed structure and systems of the performance spaces denote functional spaces for focused, physical work.

The Finishing Touch

Consistency is key. To make an approach to performance feel truly holistic, there should be unity in finishes, lighting, and messaging throughout. The individual spaces should feel like one continuous environment. Interior design will ultimately help tie it all together.

Finishes such as flooring, tile, paint colors should be the same or closely related
Equipment and furniture should be thoughtfully selected to enhance the design approach
Light fixtures and color temperature should relate, while lighting levels should remain appropriate to the tasks and use of space
A consistent design concept or idea should thread the spaces together
Brand activation should communicate goals and influence culture

With countless demands on student-athletes, their journeys through preventative and rehabilitative care don’t have to add to stress levels. Top talent demands an atmosphere to support ambitious goals. Parents of recruits respect how a facility will enable their children to be at their best. Coaches appreciate the efficiency of well-planned treatment and training spaces. For a truly holistic approach to performance include smart adjacencies, visual connectivity, and consistent look and feel throughout.

How design supports a more holistic approach to training

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