Virginia Beach
Sports Center
Virginia Beach's new Sports Center bolsters off-season tourism, offering a state-of-the-art venue for youth, NCAA, and professional sports events.
Virginia Beach, recognized for its vibrant summer tourism, has enhanced its off-season appeal with the addition of the new Virginia Beach Sports Center. This multipurpose venue marks a strategic development in the city's tourism sector, attracting a diverse array of sports events ranging from youth leagues to NCAA and professional competitions and elevating its status as a year-round destination. Managed by Eastern Sports Management and owned by the City of Virginia Beach, the complex is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities tailored to meet the needs of traveling teams, athletes, and spectators.
The Sports Center is a key catalyst in the Central Beach District Master Plan, broadening year-round attractions with national sports tourism and enriching cultural experiences for both locals and visitors. Located within proximity to the oceanfront, the Sports Center reimagines the conventional concept of a sports complex with innovative architectural and functional elements.
The facade features metal panels in two subtly differing finishes that interact with sunlight to create a dynamic visual effect. Translucent and clear panels are thoughtfully integrated to modulate daylight and frame external views. A canopy, painted a vibrant sunrise orange, draws attention to the main entrance and the adjoining outdoor plaza, contributing to the building's distinctive aesthetic.
The facility features 12 hardwood basketball courts, convertible into 24 volleyball courts, and is equipped with athlete-specific amenities like lockers, bathrooms, and doping control rooms that comply with NCAA and professional standards. Additionally, it offers versatile meeting spaces, spectator seating for 5,000, gourmet concessions, and rentable areas for public events.
The design team was led by Hanbury, in collaboration with Clark Nexsen.
- Sector: Civic + Community
- Scope: Architecture
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- 2020
- 285,000 SF
- Photos courtesy of © Dave Chance Photography
- Sports & Recreation, Gyms & Recreation Centers Finalist, Architizer A+Awards, 2023
- Award of Merit, AIA Virginia, 2022
- Merit Award, AIA Triangle, 2022
- Merit Award, AIA Hampton Roads, 2022
- Award of Excellence, Best Recreational/Entertainment/Hospitality Project, HRACRE, 2021