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.
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.
Related Stories
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Dec 18, 2017
Canada’s newest funicular makes Edmonton’s largest green space more accessible
The incline elevator is located in downtown Edmonton and was publicly funded.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Dec 15, 2017
Jefferson City’s new 80,000-sf recreation and wellness center
The facility will be co-managed by Lincoln University and the City of Jefferson – Parks, Recreation, and Forestry.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Dec 6, 2017
An upscale RV camp breaks ground in Coos Bay, Ore.
The complex will include 180 campsites and a year-round clubhouse.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Dec 6, 2017
BIG-designed 1.3 million-sf sports and entertainment district includes Austin’s first pro-sports stadium
BIG is working in partnership with STG Design and Austin Sports & Entertainment on the project.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Nov 27, 2017
The University of Memphis unveils the new home of the men’s basketball program
The Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center will provide a strong commitment to donor and VIP cultivation.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Nov 16, 2017
(UPDATED) Sasaki, Snøhetta, Studio T-Square, and HOK will lead the design of the Oakland A’s new stadium
The stadium is being planned for a piece of land that sits next to Lake Merritt near Downtown Oakland, surrounded by parkland and neighborhoods.
Giants 400 | Oct 23, 2017
Wooing jocks and fans
Colleges are going all out to optimize the fan experience and make the most of student athletes’ time.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Oct 23, 2017
Top 50 sports construction firms
AECOM, Mortenson Construction, and Turner Construction Co. top BD+C’s ranking of the nation’s largest sports sector contractors and construction management firms, as reported in the 2017 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Oct 20, 2017
Top 20 sports engineering firms
WSP, Walter P Moore, and ME Engineers top BD+C’s ranking of the nation’s largest sports sector engineering and EA firms, as reported in the 2017 Giants 300 Report.
Giants 400 | Oct 20, 2017
Top 40 sports architecture firms
Populous, HOK, and HKS top BD+C’s ranking of the nation’s largest sports sector architecture and AE firms, as reported in the 2017 Giants 300 Report.
