University of Connecticut, Mark R. Shenkman Training Center

The University of Connecticut has joined the ranks of major universities nationwide with an indoor training facility. The 85,000-square-foot Mark R. Shenkman Training Center will provide UConn’s football team with a 120-yard long synthetic playing surface and an 18,000-square-foot strength and conditioning area.

This facility will service the UConn football team, all varsity teams, and the intramural and recreation programs. Butler Heavy Structures teamed with a local builder to provide the structural steel and roofing materials for the project. The 208′ wide building stands 61′ tall at the eave and rises to 107′ at the top of the clearstory.

A ribbon of translucent panels runs the entire length of the clearstory, allowing natural daylight onto the playing field. The clearspan structural provides support for the adjacent strength and conditioning center which was designed as a conventional building. A tube girt system was installed to support custom architectural metal wall panels and the roof was clad with a standing seam metal roof system in custom color Charcoal Gray.