Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
Centerbrook Architects and Planners have succeeded in striking a balance between modern aesthetics and contextual harmony with their Leo D. Mahoney Arena, a 3,500-seat multipurpose sports facility that houses Fairfield University’s volleyball and basketball teams.
The Leo D. Mahoney Arena project has been awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2023 American Architecture Awards from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Natural light enters from three sides of the arena through ample shaded glass that complements the brick façade, which blends with the campus palate.
The curved roof is a nod to its predecessor, the beloved 2,500-seat Alumni Hall, which hosted athletics and campus events since 1959.
In addition to the performance venue, the building’s 85,000-square-foot house locker rooms, a theater-style film room, a team lounge, training rooms, staff offices, team stores, a bar, well-appointed locker rooms, and numerous back-of-house spaces.
The lower bowl accommodates approximately 2,400 people, with 700 retractable seats to create greater floor area for team practices and flexibility for other events.
The second deck holds around 1,100 and is highlighted by The Stag Club, which offers premium seating and hospitality for 150.
The design provides unobstructed views of the court from the concourse on both levels.
Additional fan amenities include a center-hung LED video board, a ribbon video board lining the front of the second tier, chair-back seating, satellite concession stands, a beer garden, and a spirit shop.
Project: Leo D. Mahoney Arena
Architects: Centerbrook Architects and Planners LLP.
General Contractor: Gilbane Building Company
Client: Fairfield University
Photographers: Jeff Goldberg/Esto
