A Training Facility Designed for the Whole Player

A Training Facility Designed for the Whole Player

Phoenix Suns, Verizon 5G Performance Center

Sports and Human Performance, Interiors

When the Phoenix Suns sought to update their aging training facility, formerly located in the basement of their 90s-era downtown arena, into a state of the art incubator for excellence, Suns leadership brought ZGF on board to reimagine what a 21st century training facility could be. According to Forbes, the Suns’ new Verizon 5G Performance Center is nothing short of groundbreaking: “There may be no NBA practice facility transformation as profound as the Suns. The team is moving from the basement of the 1992-built downtown arena into the modern, spacious confines of a facility in the shadow of Camelback Mountain.”

With the goal of optimizing performance and maintaining powerhouse teams, the facility is designed to support the “whole player” both on and off the court. This encompasses anticipating physical needs, from all aspects of training to recovery and nutrition, as well as mental and emotional needs, from moments of relaxation and solitude to opportunities for group activities that will help build the type of off-court camaraderie that translates to game day success.

Crucially, the facility was also designed as a cradle for game-changing technology. The intelligent design of the new environment can be seen in the intentional integration of both high-tech and low-tech solutions. Embodying the organization’s commitment to driving innovation in sports technology and the player experience, cutting edge biotech sensor and information capture systems by the facility’s namesake, Verizon, have been incorporated into the new training spaces.

Location

Phoenix, Arizona

Square Feet

52,000

Completion date

Complete 2020

Project Component

Interior Design

Evironmental Graphic Design

“The purpose of this facility is to help our players become the best they can be."
Phoenix Suns Leadership

It was also important to the organization that the facility be a healthy environment, with high expectations of indoor air quality—especially in the locker rooms. One aspect of how this was accomplished was by tying the players’ lockers into the air exhaust system, thereby optimizing air supply to the locker rooms by allowing fresh air to flow in through the graphic perforations on the locker doors, with odor and stale air managed by continuous direct exhaust.

Programmatically, all roads lead to basketball in the new building. Two regulation sized courts form the center of gravity for the facility, with all other spaces flanking them. At court level, a spacious gym shared by both teams opens directly onto the courts, fully equipped with weight training and cardio equipment that has been custom made to fit the height of professional basketball players.

A glass wall in the back of the gym can be peeled away, creating a seamless connection to a private lawn and allowing players to safely  train outdoors while fresh air flows freely into the space. The gym also features a courtside training and rehab area for the Suns team, with taping stations and physiotherapy benches; a frosted glass privacy wall encloses the hydrotherapy room, with hot and cold plunge pools, as well as an aquatic therapy and training pool with underwater treadmill. A similar courtside training and rehab room, complete with hydrotherapy room, locker and bathrooms are located on the opposite side of the court for dedicated use of the ladies of the Mercury team.

Upstairs, workspaces and conference rooms overlook the courts, ensuring that while work is in session all eyes are on the game. When the Suns and Mercury teams take practice breaks, they can retreat to communal spaces designed to foster conviviality. A large, open plan teaching kitchen and family-style dining table with seats for every player flows into an inviting living room with huge TV screen. A barber shop, gaming room, and golf simulator all stem from this hub of relaxation and entertainment. The purposeful layout and design of these spaces is intended to create opportunities for organic moments of bonding and mentorship among the players.

The design aesthetic throughout is at once understated and impactful, reflecting the combination of finesse and power representative of Phoenix’s professional basketball teams. The rawness of exposed concrete, metal, and wood is juxtaposed with refined accents of marble and velvet, while leathers and suedes provide a subtle nod to the sport of basketball. The color palette draws on Suns and Mercury brand colors to create an atmosphere that is a direct reflection of their team identity.

The curated graphic moments that have been integrated throughout the building help to create a cohesive branded environment. Custom installations include neon and LED signage, dimensional wall graphics, graphic perforations across locker doors, and more. The dynamic executions make use of the bold colors and shapes from the teams’ logos and branding, as well as the striking desert landscape, captivating users and fostering a sense of pride, energy, team spirit, and motivation.

With simplicity and health in mind, the facility has been designed to offer players and staff a “touchless journey” through the building—forgoing doors in some areas, with intentional layering of spaces providing privacy where it’s needed and, when paired with custom graphic elements, creating dramatic moments of arrival and inspiration.

A series of mock-ups by the ZGF environmental graphic design team and fabricators led to this custom neon installation. Lighting up the players' lounge with an LED graphic expression of the Suns' logo, this dynamic piece complements the interior design while adding a spark of team spirit.