NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As part of the ongoing Vandy United campaign, the university today shared new details about facility upgrades and enhancements, as well as an update outlining the scope and scale of the project.
“We continue to be excited about the transformation of Vanderbilt Athletics,” said Candice Lee, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. “Commodore Nation’s response to Vandy United has been nothing short of overwhelming. There is much work that remains, but it’s great to see our future begin to take shape.”
Publicly announced in March, Vandy United is an ongoing fundraising campaign that will invest $300 million in student-athletes and the athletics program through major facilities and operational enhancements. Working in conjunction with the globally renowned firm Populous, master architect for the project, Vanderbilt today released an aerial map that includes key first-phase projects.
The first phase of construction will focus on the following projects:
Indoor practice facility
This facility will include a full-length football practice field adjacent to an outdoor practice field.
Football operations center and expanded McGugin Center
This facility will house team-specific needs for football, such as meeting rooms, offices, training room and an expanded locker room. The project will benefit all student-athletes and teams and include a new training room, sports medicine facility and sport performance center.
South end zone facility
This facility will house premium seating options, hospitality spaces, upgraded food and beverage options and other fan amenities, as well as a new student-athlete dining center.
Basketball operations center and north end zone stadium upgrades
The facility will include team-specific needs for men’s and women’s basketball, including dedicated practice courts, a weight room, locker rooms and offices, as well as more premium seating options for the north end zone of the football stadium.
“Vandy United is guided by the same core values we all share at Vanderbilt: Collaborating across the Vanderbilt community to realize a bold vision and pursuing excellence no matter what obstacles may lie ahead,” Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. “Candice and I are equally committed to solidifying a student-athlete experience at Vanderbilt that is second to none—a place where talented college athletes can compete in the nation’s best conference while receiving a world-class education that will serve them well for life. We are fortunate to have the support of so many people as we launch this vital initiative.”
Since the launch of Vandy United in March, Vanderbilt leaders have met regularly with Populous to actively work though planning, including multiple site visits by Populous architects and staff. Lee said she and others continue to work with the firm to finalize renderings and concepts.
“The experience Populous brings to major facility projects like ours has been invaluable as we seek a style that is distinctly Vanderbilt,” Lee said.
In addition to the projects announced in March and included on the aerial map, Vanderbilt identified additional areas of focus for Vandy United.
These investments will include upgrading and expanding the Currey Tennis Center, home to men’s and women’s tennis. Vanderbilt has a long and storied history of success on the courts, including a 2015 national championship by a women’s program that has made 26 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Additional investments include changes to the track and field complex.
Vanderbilt also has asked Populous to explore options for enhancing its baseball facilities. Coming off an appearance in the College World Series championship series, head coach Tim Corbin’s program remains a model for what Vanderbilt student-athletes can achieve.
“Vandy United is a bold project to bring together everyone who is passionate about Vanderbilt Athletics to rally around a vision that will enhance and deliver the best experience for our student-athletes,” Corbin said. “Candice is very passionate about this mission and is determined to create a positive shift in facilities, resources and opportunities for all of our athletic programs. We’re united about an even brighter future for our baseball program, and I’m excited to be part of the Vandy United effort.”
In addition, Vanderbilt announced today that the Barton Malow company will lead construction efforts. With offices in Nashville, Barton Malow has extensive experience working with projects in higher education and athletics, as well as previous collaborations with Populous.
Barton Malow has completed more than $5.4 billion in higher education projects since 2010, as well as more than $3.8 billion in sports projects over the same period. Recent university projects include indoor practice facilities at the University of Notre Dame and University of Virginia and Northwestern University’s new athletic fieldhouse. Other athletics projects include Orlando City Stadium, home to MLS and NWSL teams, and the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park.
Construction is projected to begin at the conclusion of the 2021 football season.
To learn more about the Vandy United Fund and how to get involved, visit vucommodores.com/vandyunited or contact the National Commodore Club.
