Pearson and McGonigle Halls | Addition and Renovation

The renovation and addition of Pearson and McGonigle Halls serves as a highly visible symbol of Temple University’s plans to energize Broad Street, a main campus thoroughfare.

The project joined two adjacent sports and recreation facilities and transformed their concrete facades with vibrant expanses of glass wrapping the front of both buildings.  140,000 sf was added to the buildings’ existing 225,000 sf, which was partially renovated.  Designers developed a creative solution to the site’s urban constraints: a two-story upper level constructed across the top of the two buildings.

This new level provides regulation practice courts for both Temple’s men’s and women’s basketball teams as well as locker rooms, sports medicine center, weight room, athletic office suite, team room, and Sports Hall of Fame.  Also included on this floor is a four-court gymnasium for recreational use, a Campus Recreation office suite and multi-purpose rooms.

A new three-story atrium lobby connects the two buildings and contains a large café and lounge, academic advising space and control desk. A two-story horizontal glass arcade links to the atrium and includes a 26-foot climbing wall with bouldering area, retail shops and 2,200 sf fitness mezzanine. The glass arcade runs along Broad Street, showcasing the energy and amenities within.

Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) engaged Hastings+Chivetta (H+C) to design an addition to the Shirk Athletic and Recreation Center. Originally designed by H+C in 1994, IWU required an addition concept to accommodate an increase in student demand for activity and support space.

H+C worked with representatives from the Departments of Athletics, Recreation and Wellness to develop multiple addition concepts. The addition includes nearly 20,000 sf of space on the western side of the existing center, and provides views into the existing activity center as well as the nearby football stadium. The addition is designed to harmonize with the architectural character of the existing facility.

75% of the upper level space accommodates fitness equipment (cardiovascular, circuit training and free weight stations), the greatest area of student demand. A new enclosed Spinning Studio relocates the spinning bikes from current location in the natatorium’s wet classroom, restoring it to its original purpose. A large divisible Multipurpose Room in the new addition provides classroom and meeting space for varsity athletics. The fitness center expansion will be fully enclosed and monitored from a new check-in area.

The lower level of the addition offers four locker rooms – two each for men and women – with more than 200 lockers. An adjacent storage area would provide Athletics with nearly 3,000 sf of space