McNeese State University

Legacy Center

“Built For Resiliency”

The $35.9 million, 142,000-square-foot Arena and Health & Human Education Complex is recognized as a premier venue in Lake Charles. The facility is home to the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs and the Department of Health and Human Performance at McNeese University. Designed by Crawford Architects, the main arena seats 4,200 while the volleyball arena/practice gymnasium seats 600. Premium seating including eight luxury suites and VIP boxes and 40 loge seats is also provided. Dedicated team suites for Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball including coaching staff is also included. Training, hydrotherapy, and sports medicine facilities for student-athletes also serve as learning laboratories for students and faculty.

Crawford Architects was challenged to design a highly flexible multi-purpose arena that maximizes revenue generation while serving as a university asset for all sports, intramurals, and recreational use. The innovative design draws heavily on Resilient Design Principles that inform the building form, exterior materials, daylighting, and sun controls to withstand the severe Louisiana climate and frequent hurricanes. The idea of resiliency was also applied to interior spaces to create good value, iconic and durable environments that function flawlessly and are easily maintained.

CLIENT

McNeese State University

LOCATION

Lake Charles, LA

SIZE

142,000 square feet

CONSTRUCTION COST

$35.9M

EXPERTISE

Architecture, Interior Architecture, Brand Activation, Signage & Wayfinding, Stadiums & Arenas, Training Facilities, Health & Wellness, Higher-Education

Architectural Partner: Randy M. Goodloe Architects

We have been in a lot of on-campus facilities, a lot of practice facilities around the world. This is as fine a one as we have seen. We are honored to be here and you can count on us being here for years to come. Expect to see the Rockets in Lake Charles for a long, long time.

Tad Brown, Houston Rockets CEO