Fairfield University

This 85,000 square-foot, multi-space arena replaces Alumni Hall Sports Arena and is the new and improved home of Fairfield University’s basketball and volleyball teams. Additionally, the multi-purpose facility serves as a space for large university events and concerts. Included within the arena is a modern broadcast and media center, comfortable lounge areas, locker rooms, a film room, and an impressive training facility. The main, concourse-level entrance opens to concessions, a lively beer garden, and 3,500 seats surrounding the court. Above the concourse, you will find a club room featuring 172 cushioned seats, a bar, and a relaxing lounge area.

Kohler Ronan was delighted to design MEP/FP systems and to conduct energy analysis in support of this campus facility. Collaborating with Centerbrook Architects, our engineers ensured that building systems would enhance the arena and provide both the comfort and flexibility needed for a multi-purpose building and occupancy which is constantly in flux. Working together, the design team made quantitative improvements using an energy model and were able to optimize the envelope design and lighting to reduce heating and cooling loads. Both the building’s heating and cooling are provided via a combination of campus hot and chilled water as well as natural gas heating. Additionally, variable air volume air handlers serve the team’s locker/restrooms, classrooms, and other back-of-house spaces, while custom air handling units target the arena, where fabric ductwork was used for distribution. Our mechanical engineers improved efficiency by designing these units to operate at optimal conditions—the result of which was the receipt of incentives of approximately $150,000 from United Illuminating.

Photo credit: © Jeff Goldberg/Esto