Proj Overview

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Boosting health and wellness for their athletes, students, faculty, and staff, Pomona College recently added a new 100,000-ft2 facility that combines renovation and new construction. Situated on the campus quad, architectural precast concrete brings a modern collegiate style to the exterior of the Pomona-Pitzer Center for Athletics, Recreation and Wellness. The design connects the indoor and outdoor with plentiful natural light and views of the surrounding campus and the nearby San Gabriel Mountains.

Read more about this project in the Summer 2024 issue of Ascent.

PRECAST SOLUTION

The buildings that surround the college’s quad consist of traditional clay tile roofs and exposed cast stone and concrete. The architect wanted the precast concrete to honor the materiality of those other buildings and fit into that context.

 

Project Team

Architect

SCB

Owner

Pomona College

Contractor

C.W. Driver Companies

Structural Engineer

Rutherford + Chekene

Civil Engineer

Stantec

Precast Concrete Producer

Clark Pacific

Image Credit

Matthew Millman

Key Project Attributes

  • The center includes varsity and faculty locker rooms, a strength and conditioning center, training and conditioning space, a two-court practice and recreational gymnasium above the fitness area, team meeting rooms, offices for coaches and staff, and equipment storage space.
  • The building is multifunctional. It is home to the Division 3 NCAA student athletes, it is a performance venue for basketball and volleyball, and it offers students access to recreational fitness spaces.
  • The double-height entry of the covered, outdoor forecourt is a signature design feature and reflects campus architecture. The entrance is accented by an opening to the sky, a reference to the renowned artist James Turrell who is a graduate of Pomona College.

Project/Precast Scope

  • The light sandblast finish on the precast concrete emulates the fine smooth texture of cast stone and works well with the Southern California Mission Revival style The precast concrete design also had to accommodate seismic joints, which were hidden as much as possible.
  • The precast concrete panels are multistory in height, with the largest panel soaring to 15 ft × 16 ft 6 in. and column covers that are 3 ft 6 in. square.
  • The result of the project was an architectural precast concrete design focused on functionality and the student wellness experience.