The $15 million LSU Basketball Practice Facility officially opened its doors (photos) on Sept. 23, 2010, culminating years of vision, planning and a groundbreaking that occurred in the summer of 2008. One of the finest facilities of its kind in the nation, the building is attached to the north side of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and provides the Lady Tigers with state-of-the-art features.
The LSU Basketball Practice Facility was designed by Guy Hopkins Construction of Baton Rouge based on the designs by the firm of Tom Holden Architects of Baton Rouge in a joint venture with RDG Sports of Des Moines, Iowa.
Both the men’s and women’s teams benefit with beautiful separate full-sized practice gymnasiums. Each has two portable goals and four overhead retractable goals, both are exact replicas of the PMAC competition court. Each gym features a scoreboard, a video filming balcony and a scorer’s table with video and data connection. Each gym spans 11,324 square feet and includes a regulation NCAA court in length with two regulation high school courts in the opposition direction.
“What this building symbolizes to me is excellence and the striving for excellence,” said LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva. “This building gives our coaches the opportunity to acquire the talent that we need to win and compete for championships, and that is what we are all about here. Striving for excellence and competing for championships.”
The building also includes a central two-story lobby and staircase that ascends to the second level that has a room that can hold approximately 500 people for pre-game and post-game functions that leads into the Maravich Center concourse. The lobby showcases team displays and graphics, trophy cases and memorabilia from the past. The displays and wall graphics were designed by ZE Design of Centerville, Ohio.
The total project area covered 58,960 square feet of new construction and 1,100 square feet of renovated construction. In September 2011, a 900-pound bronze statue of LSU legend Shaquille O’Neal was unveiled in front of the facility greeting visitors and Tiger fans.
Practice Facility Facts
Project Cost: $15.5 million
Ground broken on July 1, 2008 (photos); Ribbon-Cutting on Sept. 23, 2010
Contractors: Guy Hopkins Construction of Baton Rouge based on the designs by the firm of Tom Holden Architects of Baton Rouge in a joint venture with RDG Sports of Des Moines, Iowa
Total Project Area: 58,960 square feet of new construction and 1,100 square feet of renovated construction
- Two state-of-the-art practice gyms each spanning 11,324 square feet; includes a regulation NCAA court in length with two regulation high school courts in the opposite direction
- Each gym has two portable goals and four overhead retractable goals; both are exact replicas of the PMAC competition court
- Each gym can hold up to 800 people for special events
- Each gym features a scoreboard, video filming balcony and scorer’s table with video and data connections to enable instant replay
- A central two story lobby and grand staircase ascends to the second level. The lobby showcases team displays and graphics, trophy cases and memorabilia from the past. The displays and wall graphics were designed by ZE Design of Centerville, Ohio.
- On the second level of the facility is a Pre-Function Room that opens to an extension of the Maravich Center concourse. It can hold approximately 500 people for pre-game and post-game functions.
- Other areas of the addition include a Media Room, Men’s Basketball Locker Room, Team Lounge, Training Room, Laundry Facility, Coach’s Locker Room and storage areas.