A AS ARCHITECTURE: CENTRAL MICHIGAN’S EVENTS CENTER BY SMITHGROUP JJR

At the Central Michigan University Events Center, in Mount Pleasant, spaces were designed with multiple functions in mind to encourage utilization by athletics, recreation, student affairs, and public groups.

The 72,560-sf venue features retractable seating on the lower level to allow the event floor to be expanded to accommodate additional guests or to modify the court layout to suit different sports or activities.

Practice facilities located next to the arena can be booked by club, athletic, and recreation groups. The 15,200-sf concourse and lobby doubles as a banquet space. CMU officials agree that the key element in the facility’s success is the flexibility it offers through shared activity space and support areas.

The multipurpose nature of the facility was a top priority. The Events Center currently supports concerts, speaking engagements, events, educational courses, recreation activities, summer camp programs, and graduations.

It also serves as the primary practice and competition venue for men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, volleyball, and gymnastics. Since its opening in November 2010, more than 100,000 fans have attended athletic events there, and more than 5,000 prospective students utilized the facility in last summer’s camp program.

Thousands of students and community members have participated in programs in the past year or so. Three years of planning and execution, and fourteen months of construction on the campus of Central Michigan University culminated in the opening of the 2011.

The Central Michigan University Events Center has joined CMU’s Education and Human Services Building in being recognized for its unique architecture. The Detroit chapter of the American Institute of Architecture will honor the Events Center with the 2012 Building Honor Award chosen for its “excellence in design” and sustainability.