The state-of-the-art facility transcends conventional athletics and recreation center design, efficiently and elegantly integrating all of Colby’s indoor competition venues, training areas, and other support spaces to comprehensively serve all campus athletics, recreation, and wellness programs. The project is in partnership with Hopkins Architects based in London.

Sgarzi sat on a panel where participants described highlights of their buildings, their role in the project, and discussed tips about successes and challenges they encountered.

Sgarzi shared how the project is transformative for the campus, and how it contributes to new student life and campus engagement opportunities, and while Colby College was originally concerned about opening the new building during the covid-19 pandemic, they soon realized the new facility gave them flexibility with space to spread out equipment and host campus activities, including academic activities. Colby is planning to begin hosting indoor events in the near-term since they have been limited during the pandemic. The design team looks forward to seeing the competition venues in action. 

Another challenge Sgarzi discussed are rising construction costs, and how estimators and contractors are dealing with uncertainties that lead to added contingency for both cost and schedule.