Penn State University’s renovation of the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex reimagines a dated, underutilized facility into a centralized destination for student-athlete dining, wellness, and recovery. The University’s goal is to create a comprehensive space that supports the full spectrum of student-athlete needs – nourishment, rehabilitation, performance, and connection – while reinforcing the strength and identity of the Nittany Lion brand.
Our design fulfills this aspiration by delivering a highly functional, aesthetically refined environment that celebrates performance and fosters community. A new entry addition signals a powerful transformation, welcoming student-athletes into a facility that blends rugged materials and clean lines to reflect Penn State’s no-nonsense, hard-working culture. Natural daylight animates key daily-use spaces, creating an uplifting atmosphere, while darker, more intimate zones support reflection and recovery. Thoughtful spatial transitions and curated branding throughout the facility support a seamless and inspiring user experience for over 800 athletes across 31 teams.
With just under 47,000 SF of renovated space, the GISC project redefines how student-athletes at Penn State eat, recover, and connect. On the upper level, a state-of-the-art performance dining center features a full-service commercial kitchen operated by athletic nutrition staff who tailor meals to individual performance plans. Flexible dining zones accommodate a range of interactions from a quiet study or small team meetings to large communal gatherings and a dynamic sports lounge. The lower level houses a comprehensive athletic medicine and recovery suite, incorporating hydrotherapy pools, prehabilitation and rehabilitation zones, and readiness areas to reduce downtime and maximize physical resilience. These specialized environments are designed to provide top-tier resources that mirror professional athletic standards.
