Louisiana Tech goes for 'wow' factor with shiny new football facilities, modern locker room
The piece of the new $22 million Davison Athletics Complex in the south end of Louisiana Tech's football stadium that has visitors lingering the longest is the graphics. As part of the 70,000-square-foot facility that opened this past fall capping the south end zone of Joe Aillet Stadium, the school took an opportunity to present its football program in the boldest way possible.
"The biggest thing for us is trying to create a story," says athletic director Tommy McClelland II. "We wanted to communicate what it is we're trying to say about Louisiana Tech in a way that's inspiring but also reflective. We want to share the proud tradition."
Courtesy of Louisiana Tech Athletics
With locker and weight rooms, position meeting rooms, offices and a lounge, Louisiana Tech turned to Nashville-based branding and design firm Advent to help tell a story and give life to a building, a building serving as a key connection to recruits.
"There was no doubt people were wowed as they saw the general graphics and graphics of themselves," McClelland says. "Not group was more wowed as our current student-athletes."
Courtesy of Louisiana Tech Athletics
While the complex opened this last fall, the building has now had an entire recruiting season to impress with backlit photos of current players, dramatic images from Bulldogs on the field and the NFL Hall of Fame wall honoring alumni greats like Terry Bradshaw and Willie Roaf. The space was designed to excite current players, tell the legacy story of the program to players, potential players, fans and donors and bolster the intrigue of Louisiana Tech through modern, progressive architecture and design.
No longer does the NCAA recruiting effort require a minimum of the latest in state-of-the-art facilities and technology, but now the way those facilities get skinned provides another level of player engagement.
Courtesy of Louisiana Tech Athletics
"Everyone who walks through the space for the first time is absolutely impressed," McClelland says. "We took people's expectations to the next level."
Tim Newcomb covers stadiums, sneakers and design for Sports Illustrated. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.
