million athletics facility university_of_chicago campus community area illinois united_states building named university_of_chicago alumnus architect suspension structure supported masts cables best known architect towers approved use september facility includes things competition gymnasium fitness facility olympic sized swimming pool dance studio meeting room space athletic department offices serves home university athletic teams hosted numerous regional conference championship events located southwest corner avenue 55th street award winning design complex external mast system interior support devices allow large open space areas inside building credited design architect architect record history ceremonial groundbreaking held center october opened public september officially dedicated homecoming weekend october building represented collaboration chicago new athletic facility university_of_chicago campus years million university wide capital improvement plan occurred plan included designed parking structure street parking structure named athletic center known innovative supported cable stayed structural system shaped roofs composed building north containing swimming pool building south containing central building containing fitness center contributed million million cost beta graduate played baseball team time university participated graduating law degree order eventually founded law firm alumnus 1930s contributed excess million fund swimming pool degrees university numerous donations including million fund athletic facilities infrastructure campus worked industrial relations personnel steel plant details building features metre yard lanes yard dimension lanes meter dimension pool configuration flexible bulkhead allows simultaneous activities pair meter diving boards pool depth ranges feet shallow end diving respectively square foot competition features seating spectators building includes fitness center fitness center facility occupies levels center plus area addition general fitness center includes dance studio classroom meeting room space permanent day locker rooms athletic department offices building features competition gym auxiliary gym available recreational users competition gym southernmost building practice game site varsity basketball wrestling recreational courts auxiliary gym accommodate indoor soccer basketball use serves home university_of_chicago basketball wrestling teams seat competition gymnasium played host building hosted swimming pool site hosted swimming gay games center available university hospital faculty staff alumni children paid membership basis registered students free university_of_chicago remaining universities united_states swimming requirement undergraduate degree program aside military service ivy league schools half dozen universities requirement swimming pool location administration lap requirement facilities available students university hospital faculty staff alumni children registered students free building complemented university predecessors henry crown field house modern incarnation field continue augment athletic facilities needs campus patrons features indoor field house include meter indoor running track courts courts room weight training equipment outdoor complex includes meter track tennis courts fields baseball american football soccer design construction employed short tons long tons steel pound roof gym supported pair foot steel masts pool roof supported masts mast composed inch diameter steel hollow structural sections filled high strength concrete arranged tapered tied column configuration german import masts united high strength steel cables total approximately feet length inclined degree angle vertical tapered composite mast supports flattened shaped roof supported cables fore stay cables cables construction masts filled pounds square inch cast place concrete innovative pumping techniques concrete totaling cubic yards large feet counteract weight roof ground masts likened external form giving elements flying buttresses gothic architecture campus architecture building said interpret gothic architecture structural exterior support design interior space receptive open natural lighting free movement roof design incorporated multi level cables structural roof members form inch deep uniformly curved roof plane roof members curved shallow support inch thick foot metal roof deck spans roof cold bent reverse curves multiple curved roof planes suspended german lock steel cables include outer layers shaped wires designed minimize water engineering masts complicated stability important overall design success suspension structure mast significantly alter cable length tension loads superstructure contrary design key successful design control foundation settlement sites natural underlying conditions stiff clay medium dense sand layer determined settlement host structure ground improvement consisting triple fluid jet performed reduce clay sand deposit provide desirable shallow foundation system site marked time ground improvement techniques employed reception facility engineering design earned awards building earned merit award category new buildings million category program building earned outstanding civil engineering achievement year award project year overall midwest construction news
Gerald Ratner Athletics Center