Ryan Companies US, Inc. has been selected as the design-builder, in partnership with Crawford Architects, for the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena at University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
With a 15-year history of more than 30 projects with the university, Ryan is committed to delivering a facility that encompasses the school’s rich history while showcasing its future in Division I athletics.
Ryan A+E, Inc., the design studio of Ryan, and Crawford Architects will collaborate to design the multi-purpose arena and practice facilities which will serve as the new home for the school’s men’s and women’s hockey and basketball programs. The new arena complex will play a pivotal role in the St. Thomas’ ongoing transition to NCAA Division I athletics while providing competition and training facilities for men’s and women’s athletics plus commencement ceremonies, academic convocations, conferences, career fairs, and other events for the university and broader community.
Preliminary design concepts envision seating configurations that accommodate quick conversions between various athletic and university events. Spectators will be on top of the action as intimate seating and balconies will create an exclusive home-team advantage that will enhance the game-day experience for players and fans alike. On the outside, the design will represent an intersection of the school’s collegiate Gothic architecture and a more modern aesthetic. LEED Silver certification will be pursued, which is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.
Joining the Ryan | Crawford team, Meyer Borgman Johnson will provide structural engineering and IMEG Engineers will provide mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering. The project is expected to employ 400 – 550 trade professionals for the duration of construction. St. Thomas expects to break ground in 2024, with a target opening in fall 2025.
The University of St. Thomas recently announced that it received a $75 million gift from Lee and Penny Anderson of Naples, Florida, for the arena. The donation is the single largest monetary gift ever given to a Minnesota university. St Thomas made history as the first Division III institution in the modern NCAA to transition directly to Division I.
