In 2021, the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minn., became the first Division III institution in the modern NCAA to transition directly to Division I. Plans for a new multipurpose sports arena on campus will support that move.
The Lee and Penny Anderson Arena project, including practice facilities, will serve as the new home for the school’s men’s and women’s hockey and basketball programs. It is scheduled to break ground in 2024, with a target opening in fall 2025.
Ryan Companies US, Inc., was selected as the design-builder, in partnership with Crawford Architects. The new arena complex will provide competition and training facilities for men’s and women’s athletics, and house commencement ceremonies, academic convocations, conferences, career fairs, and other events for the university and broader community.
Preliminary design concepts envision seating configurations that accommodate quick conversions between various athletic and university events. Spectators will be on top of the action, as intimate seating and balconies will create a home-team advantage that will enhance the game-day experience for players and fans.
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects North Quadrangle Day View](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%20North%20Quadrangle%20Day%20View.png)
The exterior design of the sports arena will represent an intersection of the school’s collegiate Gothic architecture and a more modern aesthetic. LEED Silver certification will be pursued.
“St. Thomas has been evolving from small Catholic liberal arts college to a comprehensive national Catholic university, and the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena will be a powerful engine for that journey,” said St. Thomas President Rob Vischer.
The university recently announced that it received a $75 million gift from Lee and Penny Anderson of Naples, Fla., for the arena. The donation is the single largest monetary gift ever given to a Minnesota university.
On the building team:
Owner: University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.
Design architect: Ryan A+E, Inc. (design studio of Ryan Companies US, Inc.)
Sports architect: Crawford Architects
MEP engineer: IMEG
Structural engineer: Meyer Borgman Johnson
General contractor: Ryan Companies US, Inc.
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects St. Thomas - Basketball Practice Facility](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%20St.%20Thomas%20-%20Basketball%20Practice%20Facility_Final%20R2.jpg)
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects Basketball](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%202023_0110%20-%20Basketball_Final_V1.jpg)
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects - Graduation ceremony](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%202023_0110%20-%20Graduation_Final_V1.jpg)
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects Auxiliary Ice Arena](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%20Auxiliary%20Ice%20Arena%20R2.jpg)
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects Enlarged Site Plan](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%20Enlarged%20Site%20Plan.jpg)
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects Fireplace Gameday View](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%20Fireplace%20Gameday%20View%20-%202023_0111.png)
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects Tower Entry Winter View](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%20Tower%20Entry%20Winter%20View.png)
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects North Quadrangle Night View](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%20North%20Quadrangle%20Night%20View.png)
![University of St. Thomas Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Renderings courtesy Ryan Companies, Crawford Architects Grand Avenue Entry View](/sites/default/files/inline-images/University%20of%20St.%20Thomas%20Lee%20and%20Penny%20Anderson%20Arena%20Renderings%20courtesy%20Ryan%20Companies%2C%20Crawford%20Architects%20Grand%20Avenue%20Entry%20View.png)
Related Stories
| Sep 24, 2014
Architecture billings see continued strength, led by institutional sector
On the heels of recording its strongest pace of growth since 2007, there continues to be an increasing level of demand for design services signaled in the latest Architecture Billings Index.
| Sep 22, 2014
4 keys to effective post-occupancy evaluations
Perkins+Will's Janice Barnes covers the four steps that designers should take to create POEs that provide design direction and measure design effectiveness.
| Sep 22, 2014
Sound selections: 12 great choices for ceilings and acoustical walls
From metal mesh panels to concealed-suspension ceilings, here's our roundup of the latest acoustical ceiling and wall products.
| Sep 17, 2014
Atlanta Braves break ground on mixed-use ballpark development
SunTrust Park will be constructed by American Builders 2017, a joint venture between Brasfield & Gorrie, Mortenson Construction, Barton Malow Company, and New South Construction.
| Sep 9, 2014
Using Facebook to transform workplace design
As part of our ongoing studies of how building design influences human behavior in today’s social media-driven world, HOK’s workplace strategists had an idea: Leverage the power of social media to collect data about how people feel about their workplaces and the type of spaces they need to succeed.
| Sep 3, 2014
New designation launched to streamline LEED review process
The LEED Proven Provider designation is designed to minimize the need for additional work during the project review process.
| Sep 2, 2014
Ranked: Top green building sector AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
AECOM, Gensler, and Turner top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest green design and construction firms.
| Aug 29, 2014
The new College Football Hall of Fame opens in Atlanta
Adjacent to the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park, the three-story, 94,250-sf attraction is designed to celebrate the traditions of college football.
| Aug 27, 2014
Ranked: Top sports facility sector AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Populous, AECOM, and Turner head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest sports facility design and construction firms, as reported in the 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 27, 2014
Survey of NCAA athletic directors reveals strong demand for new facilities, fan amenities
More than 80% of college athletic directors plan to make significant investments in facilities over the next five years to target potential recruits and spectators, according to a new survey by AECOM and Ohio University.