Fifteen years ago, Saint Joseph’s University acquired the adjacent campus of a K-12 school with the goal of providing much-needed development and expansion opportunities. Working with Sasaki, the University developed a long-term plan to combine the two campuses into one cohesive site. Acting as Executive Architect, VMA developed a cohesive conceptual approach to realizing “Wave One” of the plan’s implementation, comprising several distinct projects selected by the University.

One of the top priorities was to better align the quality of the University’s athletic facilities with the competitiveness of their Division I student athletes, and the university has engaged Perkins + Will to advance VMA’s conceptual design as architect of record. An expansion and improvement of the Hagan Arena will add new men’s and women’s basketball practice facilities, each with their own fitness and training areas. Amenities that will support other sports including an indoor turf area for shoulder season practice, a weight & fitness room, and improved locker rooms. The existing arena will receive an enhanced lobby with a refreshments bar and lounge. A new VIP suite, overlooking the competitive court, will have a bar and lounge space for game days that will double as a space for teams to watch game film and host dinners. Finally, the new architecture will create a strong public presence for the turf track & field just to the east. The suggested facade improvements toward City Avenue will create a stronger presence for the university as a whole.