The new 32-acre athletics precinct at Mt. SAC has revitalized the historic Hilmer Lodge Stadium and surrounding areas. This 685,000+ SF complex features a state-of-the-art 12,000-seat stadium, a fieldhouse, a gymnasium, a long-course competition pool, a diving and warm-up pool, a wellness center, tennis courts, a parking structure, and Heritage Hall. Guided by the school’s mission to deliver top-tier and accessible programs, the design pays homage to a rich athletics heritage, attracts significant events like national championships and Olympic trials, balances training and competition with community engagement, enhances campus identity, and draws in the surrounding community.

The stadium’s design is a testament to flexibility and adaptability. Its temporary seating can be expanded from 12,000 to nearly 20,000 seats, and the parking structure doubles as a staging area to meet major media television requirements. Celebrating heritage was a key goal for the project; in addition to the hall of fame gallery, displays, super graphics, and digital installations throughout the complex continually honor the college’s athletic past and present. Product selections were chosen to meet high-performance athletic standards, align with campus norms, and create healthy environments for training and performance. Aiming for LEED Silver certification and adhering to the campus Climate Action Plan, the project prioritized sustainable strategies that benefit users’ health, performance, education, and experience. Solar orientation, wind direction, landscaping, viewing lawns, canopies, and plaza spaces all contribute to high-level competition and comfort. Native landscaping reduces water demand, while bio-swales and underground water storage treatment systems manage water use and prevent stormwater runoff. Ample daylighting in the gymnasium competition courts and the wellness center minimizes the need for artificial lighting in the three main gymnasium spaces.

We still can’t believe we moved into this amazing facility. Truly one of a kind. HMC knocked this entire precinct out of the park! – Marc Ruh, Assistant Director of Athletics, Head Coach of Men’s Water Polo and Swimming

From courts and pools to track and fields, the vast increase in scope, scale, and quality of the new athletics facility enables the college to expand current programming and introduce brand new ones, ensuring this already impactful collegiate program continues to live out its mission to provide the highest-value programs for the community for decades to come.