RSH Architects provides architectural and engineering services to Indiana University of Pennsylvania through a multi-year professional service agreement for various project assignments. In 1999, our firm was requested to evaluate improvements to the thirty-five year old Memorial Field House, the University’s primary athletic facility.

The resulting study recommended improvements to the main gymnasium, including replacement of the sports floor, replacement of lighting, renovation of the bleacher system, upgrade of hardware for ADA and life-safety code compliance, and painting. Similar recommendations were developed for the auxiliary gym, public corridors and lobby areas.

RSH Architects proceeded with design, construction and bidding documents for prime contract format construction awards. As the design proceeded, our firm evaluated various sports floor systems and presented several recommendations to the University’s athletic director. Flooring manufacturers were interviewed and competitive systems were selected for each application - a state of the art resilient wood system for the main gymnasium and a cushioned urethane system for the auxiliary gym.

New lighting was designed for each gym, providing flexible illumination levels for various sports such as basketball, volleyball and indoor tennis. The existing bleacher system was evaluated and restoration proved to be cost effective. New sports equipment accessories such as basketball goals, backboards and floor inserts for other sports were specified. Our firm designed layouts for graphics and collegiate sports association compliant floor markings for each gym.

Construction followed a multi-phased schedule to permit continued use to the field house for graduation, summer high school basketball programs and for final completion in time for the 2001 fall collegiate volleyball and basketball schedules.