Fueling Student Athletes Through Dining Facility Design
Colleges and universities nationwide are increasingly recognizing the intense demands placed on student-athletes. From balancing coursework and travel schedules to maintaining peak physical and mental performance, these students operate at the limits of time and energy. Many athletic departments have begun asking: How can we take better care of student-athletes, especially through the spaces and facilities they frequent?
A growing body of research highlights an important piece of the puzzle: nutrition. As awareness increases around the interplay between mental health, well-being, and performance, institutions are investing in facilities that prioritize nourishing meals alongside a supportive, calming architectural environment. One notable example is Virginia Tech’s Student Athletic Performance Center (SAPC): a 25,000-square-foot facility designed to integrate best practices across dining, athletics, and academic support.
Below, Keith Storms, Rob Reis and Matt Lee explore the key design principles that shaped the SAPC and how this environment helps fuel student-athletes in ways that go beyond traditional campus dining.
Student-athletes often juggle rigorous schedules year-round, devoting upward of 80 hours per week to sports and academics combined. Rates of anxiety, burnout, and depression are on the rise, in part due to the grueling demands placed on these students. Time constraints and stress can also result in poor eating habits, a vicious cycle in which lack of nutrition exacerbates stress and further compromises performance and well-being.
Many institutions now acknowledge the strong connection between nutrition, mental health, and athletic performance. The SAPC at Virginia Tech exemplifies a holistic approach, integrating expertise from nutritionists, food service specialists, and operations teams to improve both the student experience and broader athletic culture.
One of the SAPC’s most impactful design choices was its placement at the heart of Virginia Tech’s athletic complex. By building atop the existing Jamerson Athletic Center, the new facility remains adjacent to both academic and training spaces. This means student-athletes can conveniently incorporate nourishing meals into their daily routines without sacrificing time traveling across campus.
The decision to build upward and outward from an underutilized rooftop conserved ground-level space, an especially valuable asset in a bustling athletics precinct, and repurposed existing infrastructure in a sustainable way. Retaining footings, foundation walls, and utilities minimized additional construction costs, materials, and energy. The result is a dynamic, multifunctional dining environment overlooking Lane Stadium and the Steve Johnson Practice Fields, giving Hokies a panoramic view of their home turf.
A core priority for Virginia Tech’s athletic department was to support over 500 student-athletes from 22 varsity sports, many of whom have unpredictable schedules. The SAPC therefore had to accommodate varied mealtimes, study sessions, and social gatherings. The design solves for this flexibility with adaptable furniture arrangements. Booths can move or reconfigure at will, while multiple seating types and zones cater to individuals, small groups, and large teams.
By encouraging student-athletes from different sports to dine together, the center fosters cross-team camaraderie and a deeper sense of community. Beyond day-to-day meals, the space readily transforms for recruiting events, donor gatherings, and alumni celebrations. In doing so, the SAPC becomes a “living room” for the entire Virginia Tech athletics community, a place where students, coaches, and staff can come together around shared goals and values.
Research increasingly supports what many architects and designers have long intuited: the physical environment can either heighten or reduce stress. While student athletes already experience significant performance pressure, dining facilities need not add to that burden.
Key features at the SAPC include:
Natural Light: Ample daylighting and carefully controlled sun exposure reduce glare and reliance on harsh overhead lighting. Large windows and balconies invite views of the campus and athletic fields.
Coherence and Legibility: The layout offers a clear sense of direction, preventing bottlenecks and crowding. Accessible circulation paths make it easy for students to come and go, even between scheduled meal times.
Acoustic Comfort: A linear perforated metal ceiling system, combined with sound-absorptive panels, damps noise and fosters a relaxed atmosphere for both communal dining and quiet study.
Natural Materials and Imagery: Sustainably sourced wood, earthy finishes, and large-scale wall graphics featuring the Blue Ridge Mountains and other local scenery, bring in biophilic elements that soothe and inspire. Subtle color nods to Virginia Tech’s palette unify the space without overwhelming it.
All-Day Access: The SAPC remains open beyond standard meal hours, allowing athletes a place to unwind, study, or catch up with friends. Balconies overlooking Lane Stadium offer fresh air and open views, giving students a momentary retreat from busy schedules.
“It’s created an inviting atmosphere,” says Alyson Onyon, Senior Director of Sports Nutrition at Virginia Tech. “Student-athletes will often stay for a couple of hours even if they are done eating and can enjoy good food, but also be able to converse and hang out with other athletes from different teams.”
While some university facilities saturate interiors with logos and mascots, Virginia Tech’s approach in the SAPC is notably more nuanced. Subtle branding elements, including flecks of the university’s signature orange in carpets and ceiling panels, pair with inspiring imagery and thoughtful environmental graphics. Historic quotes, achievements, and references to the broader Hokie spirit that line corridors and transitions tie the facility’s identity to the institution’s deeper values and traditions.
Perhaps the most iconic branding feature is “The Connector,” a transitional link between Cassell Coliseum and the SAPC. Its softly backlit walls and ceiling incorporate statements that reflect the ethos of Virginia Tech athletics and serving as a backdrop for everything from day-to-day foot traffic to high-profile unveilings of new team uniforms.
As more institutions acknowledge the rigorous demands on student-athletes, facilities like the SAPC show how to turn a common challenge, finding time for balanced, healthy meals, into an empowering opportunity. Through a holistic approach that unites physical nourishment, emotional support, and functional design, universities can help student-athletes excel both on and off the field.
