The University of St. Thomas

Lee and Penny Anderson Arena

“Elevating UST as a Leading Division I National Catholic University”

St. Thomas announced the $75 million lead naming gift from Lee and Penny Anderson of Naples, Florida – two long-standing benefactors of Minnesota’s largest private university – to construct a multi-use, on-campus arena in St. Paul that will be home to its Division I men’s and women’s hockey and basketball programs. The donation is one of the 10 largest known collegiate athletics gifts ever received nationally.

Crawford was selected as the design-builder, in partnership with Ryan Companies US for the new arena complex. It will play a pivotal role in St. Thomas’ ongoing transition to NCAA Division I athletics while providing competition and training facilities for men’s and women’s athletics plus commencement ceremonies, academic convocations, conferences, career fairs, and other events for the university and broader community.

St. Thomas aims to break ground on the new facility in 2024, with a target opening of fall 2025.

CLIENT

The University of St. Thomas

LOCATION

St. Paul, MN

SIZE

5,000 seats

EXPERTISE

Master Planning/ Concept Design, Architecture, Interior Architecture, Brand Activation, Signage & Wayfinding, Stadiums & Arenas, Health & Wellness, Mixed-Use, Commercial Office