WNBA practice facility will offer training opportunities for female athletes and youth

A new practice facility for the WNBA’s Seattle Storm will help the franchise expand its efforts to grow opportunities for female athletes and youth in the city. Designed by ZGF Architects in partnership with Shive-Hattery, the 50,000-sf facility in Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood will include two side-by-side basketball courts, the “Storm Team Center” with locker rooms, a lounge and a nutrition center, and strength and conditioning training spaces.

Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2023 and be completed in time for training camp ahead of the 2024 WNBA season. Force 10 Facilities, LLC (F10F) is developing the facility. The women-led project team includes owner’s representative barrientos RYAN, a design team led by ZGF Architects and Shive-Hattery Architects, general contractor Sellen Construction, and landscape architect Walker Macy.

F10F’s goal is to build a world class facility with women-led teams, supported by men and women who are experts in their areas of specialty. The following facts were released regarding the recently submitted plans:

• Currently, 85% of all project team members across all disciplines are women.
• The building design celebrates the Storm’s Pacific Northwest home, deriving inspiration from the roots of its industrial neighborhood and the team’s commitment to elite performance.
• The project is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, featuring all-electric operations and a rooftop photovoltaic array.
• The franchise will continue its longstanding work with non-profit and community partners, welcoming them to its new home to collaborate in supporting community development.

“We are excited to create a state-of-the-art training facility for our team and for our city,” said said Lisa Brummel, co-owner of the Seattle Storm, in a news release. “The Storm facility will provide our athletes with a dedicated space to support them holistically, from training to health and wellness. This facility reflects our franchise legacy, our athletes’ success, and aims to promote and grow the women’s game and expand youth access to play.”

On the project team:
Owner/developer: Force 10 Facilities, LLC
Design architect: ZGF Architects (interior), Shive-Hattery Architects (exterior)
Architect of record: ZGF Architects
MEP engineer: PAE
Structural engineer: Holmes
General contractor/construction manager: Sellen Construction
Landscape architect Walker Macy