Calvin College, Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Firm

GMB Architecture + Engineering

Client

Calvin College

Area

343,477 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$47,000,000

Completion Date

01/2009

The Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex is a multi-use, multipurpose facility designed with daily activity centers where students and staff can develop and practice healthful habits, in addition to premier Division III performance venues.

Adding a 5,000-seat arena, Olympic-size pool, two weight and fitness centers, and tennis and track facility—while renovating the former physical-education building into a state-of-the-art academic suite with campus health services, a dance studio and human performance lab—proved challenging on a compact site. The design grew out of creating dialogues between interior and exterior, public and recreation spaces, and juxtaposing the beauty of human movement with the celebration of nature. Large public spaces, intended for daily student gathering and learning, mingle with recreational activities, such as a 40-foot climbing wall, to connect the larger activity spaces. These surround a core of departmental offices, continually reinforcing the synergy among public, academic and recreational spaces.

Warm earth tones, inspired by campus brick found on every building, create a rich environment of brick, ceramic tile, wood and colored concrete block for a highly durable, sustainable and low-maintenance environment.

"Great value! Excellent composition of space components; quality materials and light; dynamic lobby space."–2020 jury