Moravian Academy sought a new athletic center for their independent school campus that would support their mission to develop the whole child in mind, body, and spirit. After laying out the initial concept during the development of a comprehensive campus plan, VMA designed a facility that responds to its prominent yet rural location through an exterior barn volume with contrasting transparency and opacity, recalling the agrarian roots of the local area and the materiality of the campus’s historic Snyder House. At night, the building glows as a lantern, welcoming visitors and establishing a familiar icon for passersby. Inside, recalling large-scale industrial spaces of the early 20th century, indirect light washes the interior playing courts from clerestories above. With a double-height atrium featuring a fitness center defined by glass walls, this feeling of openness and warmth extends throughout the facility.

The 24,000 sf gym houses two full-size basketball courts, one competition court and a multi-purpose court with synthetic flooring for other fitness activities. Separate locker rooms for students and faculty are located adjacent to the gym. Designed to LEED Silver standards, the building’s on-site orientation was chosen to admit natural light and enable passive heating and cooling.

Completed in association with designLAB architects. Landscape completed in association with Andropogon Associates.

Awards

LEED Silver Certified