Alumni Hall athletic and wellness center replaces an 80-year-old gymnasium at St. Raphael Academy, Pawtucket, R.I. It is the first new, standalone building constructed on the campus since 1928.
The heart of the new facility is the gymnasium, which has two overlapping practice courts, a full-size volleyball court and seating for 750. The building also includes a 2,500-square-foot fitness and weight-training room with more than 30 pieces of equipment. A “smart” multipurpose classroom for academic and team presentations is adjacent to the weightroom. The lower level includes locker rooms, showers, faculty offices, a conference room, and a new training and treatment center.
The architect incorporated energy-efficient features into the design to reduce operating costs and make the building environmentally friendly. The building was oriented north-south to maximize daylight and minimize heat gain. Water-efficient plumbing fixtures, and hands-free automatic flush valves and faucets help reduce water usage. The building's white reflective roof protects against UV rays, lowers surface temperatures, and reduces cooling loads and energy costs. The building also features large spans of high-performance, low-energy, fluorescent lighting fixtures. Room occupancy sensors automatically turn off lighting when spaces are not occupied.
The architect is Vision 3 Architects (Providence, R.I.).
Start: May 2006
Completion: September 2007
Project area: 30,268 sq. ft.
Cost: $6.8 million
