Hopkins Architects and Sasaki collaborated on the design and construction of the Harold Alfond Sports and Entertainment Center at Colby College in Waterville. Spanning approximately 350,000 square feet (about 32,516 square meters), it was Maine’s largest construction project at the time. This facility positioned the college as a leader in collegiate sports, excelling in terms of facilities, quality, and performance.
The new building and its surrounding landscape serve as the campus hub for student sports, entertainment, health, and wellness activities. It houses diverse facilities including multi-purpose sports areas with indoor athletics and tennis courts, ice rinks, a 50-meter swimming pool, a sports arena, squash courts, a strength and fitness center, climbing walls, flexible multipurpose spaces, locker rooms, sports medicine clinics, administrative offices, and outdoor amenities.
Architectural Organization
The complex and unique facilities are arranged efficiently with clear organization, emphasizing natural light and openness. Upon entering, visitors are guided into a lobby that leads to the building’s core, centered around a natural light source and expansive views. This central space acts as the “crossroads” of the center. The main area, located in a central courtyard connecting three levels, provides clear wayfinding for both visitors and daily users. The design embraces transparency, maximizing visibility and intuitively revealing the spatial layout. Despite the building’s large scale, it maintains a welcoming and intimate atmosphere.
Volume and Materiality
The building’s massing is broken down into a series of forms that correspond to the campus’s overall scale. Comprising five distinct volumes, each expresses a unique scale while collectively creating a cohesive architectural statement set within the landscape between the campus and nearby highways.
Beyond massing, the hierarchy of building materials articulates the organization and conveys a human scale. The campus-facing facade features glass and distinctive gray tiles, contrasted with metal finishes elsewhere. Materials transition from semi-transparent polycarbonate panels to larger industrial metal sheets, thoughtfully responding to the proximity of interstate highways.
Sustainability
Colby College is recognized as a leader in sustainable campus environments in the United States and is among only four campuses to achieve carbon neutrality. Core sustainability principles such as indoor air quality, lighting, landscaping, thermal comfort, and overall building performance are seamlessly integrated into the design. These elements support the project’s goals related to health, wellness, and optimal physical and mental performance. The center is anticipated to earn at least LEED Gold certification and is poised to become the first project in Maine to achieve SITES Silver certification.
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
Project Information
Architectural Design: Hopkins Architects, Sasaki
Area: 350,000 ft²
Project Year: 2020
Photographers: Jeremy Bittermann, Matthew Arielly
Manufacturers: ASB Squash, Gared, Holophane, Hussey Seating, Mondo, Myrtha Pools USA, Neptune Benson
Recording Architect: Sasaki
Architectural Design Team: Hopkins Architects
Location: Waterville, United States
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