For roughly 15 years, the University of Missouri (MU) football team practiced at Devine Pavilion, a 70-yard field. As the Tigers put increasingly more focus and energy into contending at a national level, it became evident that the team would need a bigger practice space.
This led MU to build the new 86,400-square-foot Stephens Indoor Practice Facility, located next to Memorial Stadium and the South End Zone Complex.
The new $33 million practice facility features a full 100-yard football field with additional run-off distances beyond the end zones and along the sidelines. It also includes an upper mezzanine and a VIP premium indoor tailgating area.
The new $33 million practice facility features a full 100-yard football field with additional run-off distances beyond the end zones and along the sidelines for athlete safety. It also includes an upper mezzanine with a viewing lobby and gameday facilities such as expanded restrooms and VIP premium indoor tailgating opportunities.
St. Louis-based architect HOK and its Kansas City-based sports division, HOK-Sport, led planning and design on the project, with product installation completed by Missouri Builders Service, Inc. Speed of build during the construction process was important to reach MU’s target open date for the 2023 season.
Because of this, insulated metal panels (IMPs) were used for the building envelope. Requiring only one installer, Missouri Builders Service, Inc., IMPs create a weathertight building envelope in reduced time, fast-tracking construction to help prevent construction delays.
Over 35,000 square feet of Kingspan’s Designwall 2000 panels were used in construction, which can provide R-values up to 5.8 per inch. This thermal efficiency can reduce heating and cooling costs in the large facility and help to regulate indoor temperatures during harsh winter months.
Designwall 2000 panels provide architects with enhanced design flexibility for large-scale projects. Vertical Designwall 2000 panels in a custom gray color were used to complement MU’s visual identity and style.
“This building is a step towards our quest to win a championship. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes step by step performance, and I think that this is going to be huge in our player development,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is an opportunity for us to continue to recruit at a high level.”
Kingspan IMPs have been used for many sports facilities around the globe, including the Daytona International Speedway, the Jones-Hill House at the University of Maryland, DRV PNK Stadium in Miami, Florida, the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Indiana, and more.