Carlisle High School - Wildcat Athletic Center

DLR Group

Recognitions: K-12 Projects 2022

Project Description

Carlisle Community School District’s new indoor activity center is the product of a 10-year master plan. Challenged with the constraints of the existing site, the addition provides superb athletic facilities for students and has the versatility to allow future academic additions to the south side of the current high school. DLR Group’s design features an elevated exercise track that provides access to both the wrestling and weight rooms, offering a unique vantage point for spectators at various sporting events. The main lobby and concessions area are acoustically connected to the gymnasium space, enabling sound to travel between the spaces and increase the spectator experience during games. A feature wall accented by a metal panel and school logo defines the entry and inspires a strong sense of community pride. The facility provides students with opportunities to excel in athletics and pursue their passions. Transparency, technology, and the layout of each space elevates the ultimate game day experiences for coaches, athletes, and fans. The new 57,500 SF addition includes an 1,800-seat competition gymnasium, wrestling room, weights and fitness room, lobby, concessions, restrooms, locker rooms, training, and coaches’ rooms. The use of Carlisle logos, graphics, and photos adds vibrancy and energy to the space, while the upper-level opening between the gymnasium and entry lobby allows crowd noise to be heard as soon as you walk in the front door of the building. An abundance of diffused natural daylight fills the gymnasium and adjacent fitness spaces. The design team navigated a number of different mechanical and HVAC systems and proposed solutions to ensure everything was in sync at the high school with the new addition. These efforts combined with a previous HVAC renovation project resulted in 28% savings annually on utility costs.