Designing modern facilities for today's student-athletes

Carroll University
Van Male Field House Renovations

Waukesha, Wisconsin

The availability of modern on-campus athletic facilities is a key component to the attraction, retention and success of student-athletes. Realizing this gap with their own 1960s-era facility, Carroll University realized the need for a renovation to their Van Male Fieldhouse and it became an urgent priority for them. Kahler Slater integrated an innovative, flexible design to allow renovated spaces to meet the changing needs of athletes and coaches for years to come.

Serving Carroll University’s 22 NCAA sports teams, new locker rooms featuring function and efficiency as the basis for design became a key goal for the project. Our team delivered a creative solution, allowing individual varsity and general locker rooms to be combined when larger teams are in need of space or separated when used by smaller teams and the general student body. In addition to the locker rooms, the renovation also includes a new athletic training room with hydrotherapy area and new athletic department offices. A striking lobby and reception welcomes athletes and visiting teams. Graphics throughout celebrate the rich history of the various programs as well as enhance the Carroll Athletics brand.

Powerful Results

“Van Male Fieldhouse is now a source of pride for Carroll Athletics. Visiting teams have even taken notice, snapping pictures of what they hope their home spaces might one day resemble.”
Full transparency between the lobby and athletic offices provides a level of connectivity between the student-athletes and coaches that the previous building design lacked.
“The modernized look and state-of-the-art upgrades better serve the entire Carroll community, and are an extension of Carroll's commitment to wellness, fitness, intercollegiate athletics, student recreation and intramurals, and the recruitment and retention of student-athletes.”
Working with existing training equipment, the design team incorporated bold graphics and rich wood tones to liven the athletic training area.