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Champions Center (2015)
The $29.9 million, 55,000 S.F. John Francis Kennedy Champions Center provides dedicated practice and training facilities for the UMass Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams and serves as the home for intramural basketball championships.
The first level includes two full-size basketball courts and five smaller practice courts, along with a player’s lounge, locker rooms, sports medicine and weight training rooms, theater, dining area, laundry facilities, and equipment storage. The second level houses offices and conference space for program administration. An entry foyer, complete with a VIP lounge and balcony, overlooks the practice courts below.
The Champions Center is located adjacent to the Mullins Center and connected to the main arena via an enclosed walkway. The two-story Legacy Hall facing Commonwealth Avenue contains memorabilia, electronic displays, and special exhibits dedicated to the history of the UMass Amherst Basketball program.
Building Information
Address: 190 Commonwealth Ave, Amherst, MA 01003-9398
Completed: Summer 2015
Size: 55,000 GFS
Designer / Architect: JCJ Architecture
Construction Manager: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Owner's Project Manager: PMA Consultants, LLC.
UMass Project Manager: Cleve Carrens
UMass Project Planners: Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham
Sustainability
Resources
LEED Project Scorecard
LEED Project Dashboard
Green Building Brochure
Indoor Air Quality
- Dedicated outdoor air system monitors temperature and adjusts intake and exhaust rates accordingly
- Implemented an Indoor Environmental Air Quality Plan during construction to promote worker health and safety
- Individual lighting and thermal comfort controls allow users to make adjustments for optimal comfort
- Low-VOC flooring, paints, adhesives, coatings, and sealants
Materials + Resources
- 84% of building materials were extracted, processed, and manufactured regionally
- Diverted 91% of construction wastes from landfill
- 43% of new construction materials utilize recycled content
- Comprehensive university recycling program
Innovation in Design
- High efficiency LED light fixtures
- Green Housekeeping Program
- Active green building public education programs
Water Efficiency
- 36% reduction in potable water use via low-flow plumbing fixtures
Sustainable Sites
- Walkable to several basic campus services, including a sports arena, recreation center, and hotel
- Compact building footprint maximizes open green space
- 65% of the site’s natural habitat was protected and restored
- 124% of the roof surface has a high Solar Reflectance Index that mitigates heat island effect
- Water efficient landscaping utilizes drought-tolerant, native plant species and requires no permanent irrigation methods
- Easy access to four PVTA bus stops
- Bike storage with shower and changing facilities provided onsite
Energy & Atmosphere
- Solar-ready design for future rooftop array
- Overall energy reduction by 14%
- Façade combines transparent curtainwall system with translucent polycarbonate panels to maximize natural daylight and views
- Eliminated/minimized emission of compound that contribute to the ozone depletion and global climate change
Photo Gallery
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Images 1-10 courtesy of JCJ Architecture. Image 11 by Daniel Malone, courtesy of MassLive.
Media
Videos
New Athletics Facilities
UMass Amherst - 5/2/2013
Groundbreaking Ceremonies of UMass Football Performance Center and Basketball Champions Center
Massachusetts Athletics - 5/2/2013
Updates On the New Champions Center Gym
uvctv - 11/11/2013
UMass Champions Center Construction Update - February 2015
Massachusetts Athletics - 2/20/2015
UMass Champions Center
JCJ Architecture - 11/12/2014
Champions Center Tour - 2/8/2016
Daily Collegian - 2/10/2016
Articles
Take a Tour of the UMass Basketball Champions Center Practice Facility
MassLive - 2/5/2016
University Christens New Practice Facility in Honor of Long-Time Supporter John F. Kennedy after $11 Million Donation
MassLive - 11/11/2014
UMass Basketball Champions Center Construction To Begin In Early August
UMass Women’s Basketball - 7/29/2013
John Francis Kennedy Champions Center
UMass Facilities - n.d.
Champions Center at UMass Amherst
Architizer - n.d.
Champions Center to Enhance Support for Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams
UMass Amherst News & Media Relations - 10/21/2014
Champions Center on Track for June 2015 Opening
UMass Amherst News & Media Relations - 10/14/2014
Ground Broken for New Football, Basketball Training Facilities
UMass Amherst News & Media Relations - 4/23/2013
New UMass Basketball Facility Scores High in Sustainability and Support
Duo-Gard - 5/31/2016