Spartans Tennis Complex

It is often surprising to many that one of the top 25 ranked tennis programs in Division I does not operate out of its own facility. This project, designed by IDS, will change that. Located just southeast of the new Tom Izzo Football Building, the new tennis complex consists of six recessed outdoor courts with an adjacent support building. Designed to be the new home for players and coaches, this building is clad with limestone and zinc panels to complement other nearby athletic facilities.
When student athletes first enter the building, they find themselves in the player lounge. Designed to feel more residential, this space is intended to serve as the living room for both the men’s and women’s programs. Outfitted with a small kitchenette, dining area, fireplace, and lounge area, this space has all the amenities important to current players and recruits. Extending both north and south of this room are wings housing spaces specific to the men’s and women’s teams. These wings include head coach and assistant coach offices, locker rooms, storage, and a small sports med room.

With views maximized out to the recessed playing surface, players and coaches have a better connection to the action out to each of the courts. With views maximized out to the recessed playing surface, players and coaches have a better connection to the action out to each of the courts.With views maximized out to the recessed playing surface, players and coaches have a better connection to the action out to each of the courts.The location of this building presented a unique challenge. Situated between existing recreation tennis courts, the football practice fields, and the loading dock of the Izzo Football Building, it might have easily been confused as a support building for one of the nearby facilities. This is compounded by the fact that it does not have any road frontage being tucked away on this site. To counteract it’s location, the materiality of the facade elevates its design and signifies to pedestrian traffic that this is an important facility. Prominent signage and a Spartan logo are also up lit drawing attention to it from a distance. All this was done to give Spartans Tennis the prominent home they deserve.