The University of Miami has filed plans with the city of Coral Gables to build a Football Operations Center.
According to the application, the project is estimated to cost $100 million.
Some of the amenities in the 7-story building will include:
- a massive locker room
- therapy pool
- NFL room
- hyperbaric, cryo, dry needling, chiro, float rooms, along with medical, recovery and rehab areas
- lane pool, treadmill pool, cold plunge pool, hot lounge pool, hydrotherapy
- meeting rooms, recruiting rooms and lounges, and a team sim room
- coaches locker rooms with showers, hot tub and sauna
- coaches offices and meeting rooms
- player lounge, pool table area, simulator, multi-propose studio, alumni lounge
Groundbreaking is planned for 2023, with completion in 2025.
Arquitectonica and HOK are the architects, with HOK also handling interior design.
The Coral Gables Development Review Committee is scheduled to have a hearing on the proposal on December 9.
Here’s a summary of the project, from a Letter of Intent sent to city planners by UM representatives:
The Football Operations Center is a state-of-the-art facility that will house both the administrative and player development functions of the UM Football team. The building will support student athletes and the University’s goal of recruiting the best talent in the nation.
The building site is an existing surface lot fronting Dickinson Drive in close proximity to existing athletic support services. The Soffer Football Indoor Practice Facility and Herbert Wellness Center are located across the canal to the west, the Watsco Center is located to the east across Dickinson Drive, the Lennar Central Energy Plant is located to the south, and the under-construction Centennial Village is located to the north.
The building program includes dedicated spaces for training, recovery, nutrition, and relaxation as well as support spaces for academic services, recruiting, and professional development. In addition, the project includes a 6-story garage with a dining facility dedicated to athletes on the first floor.
Construction on the building is expected to begin in late 2023 and be completed in mid-2025.
Project Description
The Football Operations Center is a 7-story building encompassing approximately 150,000 SF.
The garage consists of 6 floors, with approximately 600 spaces designed to serve the University community. A nearly 15,000 SF dining facility for student athletes with approximately 350 seats is located on the ground floor along with loading areas. A ramp will lead to the parking floors above. On the 3rd floor, a walkway will connect directly with the Football Operations Center.
The building and garage are located on axis with the Hecht Athletic Center walkway and pedestrian bridge, a major student pedestrian route that connects University Village and off-campus housing with the student life and academic core. A covered paseo between the building and the garage emphasizes and creates a welcoming gateway within the campus.
The architecture of the building celebrates the dynamic nature and excitement of the football program. Glimpses of the heritage of the Miami Hurricanes and the current athletic program are provided to students and visitors as they walk through the paseo.
The location of building along the University canal allows for a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Recessed glazing and outdoor terraces both shade and allow natural daylight into the building. Roof terraces are strategically placed to connect the view of the athletic campus with expansive horizon views of Coral Gables.
The garage also becomes an integral part of the complex. A bridge on the 3 rd level allows for private and direct connections from the garage to the Football building. At grade, the athletic dining facility opens to both the paseo, the canal and to Dickinson Drive.
Dickinson Drive will end in a plaza that connects the existing Wellness Center, Centennial Village, and the garage. Active uses and landscaping complement the plaza to allows for a student friendly environment along with functional vehicle access to the garage. Service and delivery vehicles will access the building directly from Dickinson Drive.
Together, these two buildings will provide a home suitable for the University of Miami football team and enhance the legacy of the University’s athletic programs.
