Georgia State University’s new Convocation Center doubles the arena it replaces and is expected to give a shot in the arm to a long-neglected Atlanta neighborhood. The new 200,000 sf multi-use venue in the Summerhill area of Atlanta is the new home for the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and will also be used for large-scale academic and community events.
With a seating capacity of up to 8,000, the facility provides users with world-class amenities, including a club room and suites for attendees and locker rooms, nursing, and sports medicine rooms for student athletes. The design concept, “A Window to the City,” includes elements offering visitors a heightened sense of awareness and connection to their community and deliberately turns its focus to the surrounding neighborhood and the larger city beyond.
The detailing of the primary cladding system, an insulated metal panel system over a steel frame, aimed to create a clean façade expression incorporating glazing, ventilation, and entry without compromising its inherent economy or the simplicity of its overall effect. The new facility includes the latest in lighting technology, acoustics, and building control systems. Wayfinding is integrated into the facility’s design, giving a sleek finish. Masonry and cement flooring make for easy maintenance and cleaning, while floor-to-ceiling glass windows welcome natural light and offer guests a visual connection to the downtown Atlanta skyline.
The design team worked with a Perkins&Will research group to model glare, views, and direct sunlight infiltration for each seat and the playing floor. This work allowed for dramatic city views without affecting the usability of the facility.
As a hosting site for the 1996 Olympic Games and later the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball team, Summerhill was once a thriving and vibrant community that has since experienced years of neglect and isolation. The new Convocation Center will attract visitors to the area for numerous sporting and cultural events.
On the project team:
Owner: Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia; Georgia State University
Design architect: Perkins&Will
Architect of record: The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM)
MEP engineer: CBRE, Heery
Structural engineer: Walter P Moore
General contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie
Civil Engineer & Landscape Architect: Kimley-Horn
Related Stories
| Oct 8, 2013
Toronto Maple Leafs arena converted to university recreation facility
Using steel reinforcement and massive box trusses, a Building Team methodically inserts four new floors in the landmark arena while preserving and restoring its historic exterior.
| Oct 1, 2013
13 structural steel buildings that dazzle
The Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., are among projects named 2013 IDEAS2 winners by the American Institute of Steel Construction.
| Sep 26, 2013
6 ways to maximize home-field advantage in sports venue design
Home-field advantage can play a significant role in game outcomes. Here are ways AEC firms can help create the conditions that draw big crowds, energize the home team to perform better, and disrupt visiting players.
| Sep 24, 2013
8 grand green roofs (and walls)
A dramatic interior green wall at Drexel University and a massive, 4.4-acre vegetated roof at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center in Kansas City are among the projects honored in the 2013 Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence.
| Sep 19, 2013
What we can learn from the world’s greenest buildings
Renowned green building author, Jerry Yudelson, offers five valuable lessons for designers, contractors, and building owners, based on a study of 55 high-performance projects from around the world.
| Sep 19, 2013
6 emerging energy-management glazing technologies
Phase-change materials, electrochromic glass, and building-integrated PVs are among the breakthrough glazing technologies that are taking energy performance to a new level.
| Sep 19, 2013
Roof renovation tips: Making the choice between overlayment and tear-off
When embarking upon a roofing renovation project, one of the first decisions for the Building Team is whether to tear off and replace the existing roof or to overlay the new roof right on top of the old one. Roofing experts offer guidance on making this assessment.
| Sep 17, 2013
Healthcare project will merge outpatient clinic with YMCA to promote wellness and prevention
Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region announce collaboration, along with developer The Boldt Company, to create next-generation wellness facility.
| Sep 16, 2013
Study analyzes effectiveness of reflective ceilings
Engineers at Brinjac quantify the illuminance and energy consumption levels achieved by increasing the ceiling’s light reflectance.
| Sep 11, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 3 coverage
Day 3 coverage of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo, taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.
