2021 Rutgers Making a Champion Guide

The Strength and Conditioning Room is regarded as best-in-class, with a range of equipment and support for different training modalities as well as integrated Recovery program elements. Another space that has exceeded expectations is the Strength and Conditioning Room. Designed with sliding glass walls that can completely open to the outdoors, the Strength and Conditioning Room has continued to serve as a place where student-athletes come together to train—even under pandemic-related restrictions. Well before the pandemic, the Strength and Conditioning Room was regarded as best-in-class, with a range of equipment and support for different training modalities. Assistant Athletics Director for Strength and Conditioning, Van Dyke, argues that “Our Strength and Conditioning Room is as good as any facility there is, [and] we have the flexibility to train a very broad range of [student-] athletes.” Trainers praise the design for how it was integrated with Recovery elements, as staff are able to observe student-athletes in an informal context and catch issues before they may turn into injuries. As with so many other aspects of the APC, the adjacencies and resulting encounters among student- athletes and staff result in positive outcomes for the teams, as a whole, and for student-athletes as individuals. These shared environments are balanced with spaces dedicated to each team, i.e. the practice courts and locker room suites. Customizing each team’s practice space has resulted in more effective training. The Women’s Gymnastics team’s dedicated area, for example, has helped reduce injuries by having an ideal and customized equipment configuration. Without having to accommodate other activities, it’s possible to have superior protection and padding. Similarly, the customized spaces for Men’s and Women’s Basketball incorporate recording and biometric technology tailored specifically to their needs. The locker room suites for all sports also play an essential role in making student-athletes comfortable. With couches, TVs, and easy access to recovery equipment, these areas function as a protected space where teammates can relax and bond. The building’s kit of parts is arranged in a unique way, though consisting in some cases of somewhat standard programmatic components. The organization of the APC’s spine of shared spaces and resources provides the rigid flexibility needed for this program while lending a level of richness. Together, the kit of parts and organizational elements work together to enhance the well-being, collaboration, performance, and experiences of all who use the building. 35 Perkins Eastman