An addition to the LSU Basketball Practice Facility added 58,000 sq ft, providing two new practice courts for the men’s and women’s teams, locker rooms, team lounges, storage, restrooms, and a striking two-story entry lobby designed to celebrate the program’s legendary players and championship history. A grand stair leads to a large multi-function banquet room overlooking the arena concourse, while meeting rooms and team viewing spaces complete a comprehensive, athlete-focused facility.

Expanding an iconic 1970s structure presented unique challenges. The arena’s oval footprint, four massive arching ramps, and exposed skeletal frame left few options for direct attachment. The solution from Wells was able to eliminate two ramps to make way for an addition that complements the original form, meets the functional program, and extends the life of the complex. New prefabricated stadia fulfilled egress requirements in a fraction of the space previously occupied, while a steel structural frame paired with architectural precast cladding accelerated construction and reduced foundation costs by an estimated $500,000.