University of Washington ICA Women’s and Men’s Basketball Training Facility

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

University of Washington’s (UW) new basketball training center advances equity, performance, and recruiting for women’s and men’s programs entering a new competitive era.

Location

Seattle, Washington

Client

University of Washington

Expertise

Sports Education [FPO] Related Expertise 03 [FPO] Related Expertise 04 [FPO] Related Expertise 05

Opportunity

UW needed a modern basketball training facility to elevate student-athletes’ performance, strengthen recruiting, and usher in a new era of opportunity, equity, and excellence for Husky Basketball.

High-quality sports training facilities elevate student-athlete performance by offering safe, modern spaces built for growth. Access to these specialized spaces and professional resources improves technique, boosts motivation, and promotes consistent practice. These facilities also foster team cohesion, helping athletes reach higher competitive levels while maintaining overall health and readiness. The University of Washington needed a basketball training facility that would not only enhance performance but also act as a recruiting tool with dedicated training spaces for both its women’s and men’s programs.

Why This Matters

01
Equity Through Access
Dedicated 24/7 practice courts give both women’s and men’s programs equal training access, reinforcing UW’s commitment to Title IX.
02
A Recruiting Advantage
The facility needed to serve as a visible front porch for Husky Basketball, attracting recruits through high-performance spaces and brand moments.
03
Campus Connectivity
New internal connections link Alaska Airlines Arena and Graves Annex, improving flow between student-athlete spaces and the broader athletic campus.

Our new basketball training facility has already made a significant impact on both of our basketball programs.

Solution

Gensler organized the facility around equal courts, shared support spaces, and elevated views that turn daily practice into a recruiting experience.

Gensler’s design anchors two full-size practice courts around a central T-shaped spine that creates spaces for support services and dramatic sightlines above the courts. A skywalk viewing mezzanine transforms practice sessions into spectator experiences for recruits, fans, and families. At ground level, a welcoming entry celebrates Husky Basketball history through immersive brand moments, enhancing student-athlete access and increasing appeal to prospective recruits. The new facility creates an intimate, focused atmosphere that elevates everyday training into a performance ritual.

From brief to build: how equity, daylight, and Husky tradition shaped a 24/7 basketball training facility.

The design process centered on three moves: honoring the history of the UW Athletics Village, illuminating the practice courts, and leveling the playing field for women’s and men’s basketball. The team studied the neighboring Hec Edmundson Pavilion’s 97-year-old brick masonry, tested daylight and glare strategies, and organized equal courts around a shared entry and amenities. Those decisions shaped a facility rooted in campus context, performance, and Title IX equity.

Honor Tradition & Equality

An extension of a nearly century-old arena, the new 24/7 facility doubles practice area for both Men's and Women's programs.

Impact

The completed facility strengthens Husky Basketball with equitable training environments, improved connectivity, and a bold new platform for recruiting.

The new center elevates daily training, strengthens connections across the athletic campus, and supports both programs as UW enters the Big Ten conference.

What Changed Because of This

01
Student-Athlete Experience
Two dedicated courts and supporting spaces give women’s and men’s basketball equal access to focused training, development, and preparation.
02
Campus Flow
New internal connections link the arena and Graves Annex, creating a more integrated training environment for student-athletes.
03
Recruiting Presence
A skywalk viewing mezzanine, entry foyer, and recruiting room create a visible front porch for Husky Basketball.

This facility is designed to provide an inclusive and equitable environment where every student-athlete can thrive.

Recognition

01

Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce

Covers the completed 36,000-square-foot facility, naming Gensler as architect and noting two practice courts, site improvements, and LEED Gold targeting.

02

The Registry

Highlights Gensler’s design, donor funding, equitable 24/7 courts, and central T-shaped spine.

03

Puget Sound Business Journal

Announces construction start, naming Gensler as architect for the Big Ten Basketball facility.

Team

Project Leadership

[FPO] Francesly Sierra

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[FPO] Mariah Osland

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[FPO] Mark Stauning

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Ryan Sickman

Sports Leader, Principal

FAQ

01

Where is the University of Washington ICA Basketball Training Facility located?

The facility is located on the University of Washington’s East Campus in Seattle, adjacent to Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

02

Who designed the facility?

Gensler designed the facility, with Mortenson serving as general contractor through an integrated design-build delivery model.

03

How large is the facility?

The completed basketball training facility is 36,000 square feet and includes two 9,800 square foot practice courts.

04

How does the project support equity?

The facility provides dedicated, equal-scale practice courts and shared amenities for women’s and men’s basketball, reinforcing UW’s commitment to Title IX.

05

What spaces are included?

The facility includes practice courts, viewing and gathering spaces, a skywalk viewing mezzanine, an entry foyer, and a conference and recruiting room.

06

What sustainability goals guided the project?

The project targeted LEED Gold certification and incorporated embodied carbon tracking, low-carbon materials, water planning, and Salmon-Safe practices.

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Related Expertise

Sports Education Related Expertise 03 Related Expertise 04 Related Expertise 05

University of Washington’s (UW) new basketball training center advances equity, performance, and recruiting for women’s and men’s programs entering a new competitive era.

UW needed a modern basketball training facility to elevate student-athletes’ performance, strengthen recruiting, and usher in a new era of opportunity, equity, and excellence for Husky Basketball.

Why This Matters

Gensler organized the facility around equal courts, shared support spaces, and elevated views that turn daily practice into a recruiting experience.

From brief to build: how equity, daylight, and Husky tradition shaped a 24/7 basketball training facility.

The completed facility strengthens Husky Basketball with equitable training environments, improved connectivity, and a bold new platform for recruiting.

What Changed Because of This