CSU Buildings and Grounds History

From CSU's Sense of Place:  A Campus History of Colorado's Land-Grant University, by James E. Hansen, Gordon A. Hazard, and Linda M. Meyer.  Fort Collins, CO:  Colorado State University, 2018.

Architects - Michael L. Aller, David Lingle and Bradley Massey

Builder – Saunders Construction Company, Incorporated

821 West Plum Street

Constructed north of the Student Recreation Center on the previous location of the CSU varsity tennis courts, this expansive $13 million structure covers a total area of 66,267 square feet. On September 18, 2009, the Indoor Practice Facility (IPF) and the Aca­demic Training Center were both officially dedicated by the Department of Athletics.

Visitors enter the IPF through a lobby large enough to accommodate sports camp registrations and social events, and featuring a trophy display case on the north wall. Doors on the east side of the lobby lead to the massive field house, while the south doors open into the gymnasium portion of the IPF.

Under the distinctive curved roof of the IPF, which is 65 feet high at its tallest point, a 50-yard synthetic turf football gridiron and 20-yard end zone are bordered by a four-lane, 70-meter straight-line sprinting track. Although marked for football, the field can be used by the other varsity teams to meet their training needs in a sheltered environment. The building has a training room, storage space for equipment, and even a shoe-changing room next to the football field.

The gymnasium portion of the IPF has a regula­tion-sized basketball court decorated to look like that of Moby Arena. Moreover, its hardwood floor can be revamped to accommodate two full-sized volleyball courts with backcourt space for servers. The IPF was not built with traditional air-con­ditioning but was designed with a very cost-effective air circulation system to keep users comfortable while training and competing. Lighting throughout the Indoor Practice Facility provides optimum visi­bility and energy efficiency.