Floren Varsity House

This Varsity House provides three stories of program space for Dartmouth College's intercollegiate athletics program. It is built on a "found" site previously occupied by the tallest sections of the football and track stadium's spectator bleachers. The bleachers were rebuilt to be brought up to code and integrated with the new building.

Client

Dartmouth College

Location Hanover, NH
Size 43,794 Sq. Ft.
Features addition, LEED
Program strength training, auditorium, lounge, locker rooms, equipment room, training room, offices, classrooms
Year Completed 2007
Photo Credit Jeff Goldberg/Esto
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The Varsity House forms strong new edges for Dartmouth's football and track stadium to the west and for the baseball stadium to the east. Clad in the trademark red brick used on Dartmouth's campus, the detailing is flush in order to make a contemporary expression and to be a foil for intricate facades of nearby athletic buildings, which date from 1911.

The heart of the building's 43,000 square feet is a mid-level, 200-foot-long, double-height, 10,000-square-foot strength training room designed to be used by all 34 of Dartmouth's varsity teams. Its third floor features a large football lounge with spectacular views overlooking the 50-yard line. Retractable canvas awnings shield the large windows in the lounge from the late afternoon sun and recollect great stadium venues of old. At the ground floor, a sloped-floor, 130-seat auditorium accommodates Dartmouth's full football team and coaching staff, as well as smaller teams. The building also houses classrooms, coaches' offices, locker and shower rooms, an equipment room, and a training room.

Sustainability was a priority in the design of this Varsity House, and it received LEED Silver certification.

“All the reactions from student-athletes, recruits, alumni, and everyone continue to be raves. Floren Varsity House not only meets our practical needs very effectively, but truly achieves the 'wow factor' we were hoping for!” Dartmouth Deputy Director of Athletics Bob Ceplikas
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MORE INFORMATION

Awards

  • Honorable Mention, Education Category, Environmental Design + Construction Magazine
  • Design Award of Honor, New Hampshire Society of American Registered Architects