Indoor Turf Facility a big win for Brown community

A versatile new space will optimize training for varsity teams and enhance club sport, intramural, and wellness opportunities.

Construction is underway on a 76,000-square-foot Indoor Turf Facility in the Brown Athletics complex. To be located directly behind the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center and the Nelson Fitness Center, the new facility will replace Meister-Kavan Field, addressing a critical infrastructure need for an all-season space for practice, training, and recreation.

“In the same way the University has made significant investments in our classroom technology, labs, libraries, and performance spaces for the arts, elevating resources for Brown athletic and recreation facilities has a huge impact on the Brown experience,” says M. Grace Calhoun ’92 Ph.D., the Chancellor Samuel M. Mencoff ’78 Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. 

Calhoun cites the project as central to the Division’s strategic priorities, building upon the University’s efforts to update facilities for football, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, crew, and other sports that occurred during the first six years of the BrownTogether campaign.

“Outstanding facilities are essential to providing the programming our current students are requesting on a daily basis.  Additionally, top facilities help recruit the best student-athletes and provide our dedicated coaches with the space they need to lead their teams and compete for championships,” Calhoun says. “We have approximately 1,000 varsity athletes as well as 1,500 club sport participants and more than 2,500 students involved in intramurals. This new facility will benefit all of those communities.”

Competing year-round 

Beating the heat of late summer and contending with New England’s extreme winter weather has been an age-old challenge faced by Brown student-athletes and coaches. The new Indoor Turf Facility will provide a controlled environment, from early morning to late evening, for year-round practice and training.

“Currently, Brown’s football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, and other field teams have insufficient time for outdoor training from November through April,” says Calhoun. “Our teams have been at a competitive disadvantage, compared to schools in warmer climates and those with indoor practice facilities. Brown was one of only two Ivy League schools without an indoor turf option. That’s about to change.” 

A building that reflects community consensus

With 92% of undergraduate students engaged in athletics and recreation activities during the 2023-24 academic year, the new Indoor Turf Facility will expand capacity to meet growing demand for recreation programming and fitness options for students, faculty, and staff eager to incorporate physical activity into their personal wellness plans.

“The expectation is that this facility will be in use virtually all day, alleviating some of the scheduling conflicts that often arose among intercollegiate, club, and intramural programs,” says Calhoun. A system of nets will allow the indoor field to be divided into four separate playing areas. The flexible design reflects input from a range of community stakeholders. 

Sasaki, the architectural firm that designed the facility, has a recognized expertise in creating dynamic campus spaces for sports, wellness, and student life. The building will have a tapered roofline to ensure sufficient height for all sports and a lower elevation facing Stimson Avenue. On the east side of the building, stainless steel fins will spell out BROWN, and tall windows will allow ample natural light.

The new facility allows Brown to enhance intramural sports programs and grow undergraduate participation in recreation, creating more space for wellness activities ranging from soccer and kickball to flag football, ultimate frisbee, and group fitness classes. “Club teams will be able to practice year round to better compete with some of their national rivals,” says Ray Grant, senior associate director of athletics and recreation. "On the intramural side, we will have the ability to expand our offerings and to program later in the evening without being concerned about lighting."

Fundraising for the Indoor Turf Facility is ongoing, with $68.5 million in commitments toward the goal of $70 million, Calhoun confirms. “Trustees, athletics alumni, and our amazing Brown parents have championed this important new facility. Their leadership support is bringing this project to fruition.” 

Construction is projected to be complete in January 2026, with the facility opening in time for the spring 2026 athletics season. You can follow construction progress on the Indoor Turf Facility via an online webcam.

Renderings by Sasaki Associates, Inc.

To learn more about gift naming opportunities available, please contact:

David Keeffe
Assistant Vice President of Development
david_keeffe@brown.edu