McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has completed construction of the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. Construction began in May 2022.
The building recently earned LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building program. LEED points were earned for features including using low emitting materials, optimizing energy performance, enhanced commissioning, indoor water use reduction, and rainwater management.
The $20-million, three-story, 25,000-square-foot center, which is connected to the 10,600-seat multi-purpose Chaifetz Arena, will provide support services for the University’s 400-plus Billiken student athletes with programming related to academic advising, spiritual development, sports performance, nutrition, wellness and sports psychology, among other related services.
High-end finishes throughout the facility demonstrate the university’s commitment to student athletes. Natural daylight shines throughout the facility on all elevations with nearly three-story high glass windows radiating light onto the brilliant blue terrazzo floors.
Other Special features include a massive 9-screen square video wall in the nutrition center dining room where athletes can watch the latest Atlantic 10 matches, as well as a 3,006-sq.-ft. student success suite, 375-sq.-ft. performance nutrition center, 3,759-sq.-ft. team dining suite, 6,210-sq.-ft. basketball operations suite for men and women, and a technology classroom and suite.
Dramatic features also include a curtain wall on the west, east and north elevations that is two stories tall, including a section on the west elevation that is nearly three stories tall, extending from grade to the clerestory roof line. The clerestory creates ceiling heights reaching 19-ft.7-in. in the Victory room, 31-ft.6-in. in the lobby and 23-ft.7-in. in the dining room.