Photo Credit: 2RW Consultants

William & Mary Kaplan Arena Renovation and Mackesy Addition

Williamsburg, VA

Owner

William & Mary

Sustainability

Targeting LEED Silver

Timeframe

Phased: 2019 – 2026 (est.)

Size

131,000 SF Renovation; 36,000 SF Addition

Cost

$57.6 million

MEP engineering for the phased renovation of Kaplan Arena and construction of the Mackesy Sports Performance Center featuring practice courts, training and sports medicine spaces, and upgraded arena facilities, including lobby, seating, and support areas. The design integrates new and existing systems to meet energy and budget goals and coordinates performance across buildings.

Project Goals

William & Mary aimed to revitalize Kaplan Arena and add the Sports Performance Center (SPC) to better support student-athlete development, enhance the fan experience, and strengthen recruitment efforts. The project was intended to modernize the arena through a new performance center and improved arrival and lobby spaces, along with targeted upgrades within the existing facility to extend its functionality and long-term value.

Services

As part of the planning process, 2RW conducted an MEP systems assessment to evaluate existing building systems, inform renovation viability, identify opportunities for system reuse, and define the MEP scope in alignment with William & Mary’s goals, energy efficiency objectives, and project budget.

For the new Mackesy Sports Performance Center, 2RW designed MEP systems to support athletic training, sports medicine, building operations, and occupant comfort. The addition features a new practice court, weight room, auxiliary sports medicine areas, hydrotherapy room, storage and support spaces, and lobby/arrival areas. MEP design includes a pool dehumidification unit for the hydrotherapy room and integration with the building automation system. New MEP systems in the SPC were coordinated with existing arena systems to support seamless performance and operational efficiency.

The renovation scope in the existing arena supported locker room upgrades, new sports lighting, and scoreboard improvements. Electrical design included LED sports lighting and lighting controls to support professional-quality broadcasting, as well as coordination of power and infrastructure for the new scoreboard. Plumbing and mechanical design supported the renovated locker room areas, including domestic water, waste and vent, ventilation, and comfort systems coordinated with existing building conditions.

Throughout the project, 2RW integrated new and refurbished systems with existing components to support performance, energy efficiency, budget goals, and long-term maintainability. Careful planning and phased coordination helped the arena remain operational during construction, minimizing disruption to university programs and events.

Results

The completed project provides modernized athletic support spaces and arena improvements while preserving and adapting key portions of the existing facility. 2RW’s MEP design supported new performance and lobby spaces, refreshed locker room areas, upgraded sports lighting, and scoreboard infrastructure, enhancing the athlete, fan, and event experience at Kaplan Arena.

Partners

Moseley Architects

HTNB

VHB

Dunbar Structural

Barton Malow Builders

Shift Sustainability Consulting

Awards

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Team
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Neal Cramer, PE

Principal
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Dan Woolford, PE, CEM, BEP

Senior Mechanical Engineer
Adrienne Hendrickson, PE, LEED AP BD+C | | 2RW

Adrienne Hendrickson, PE

Senior Electrical Engineer
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Mikal Evelyn

BIM/CADD Coordinator
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Michael Lilly, PE

Project Engineer, Electrical
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Jay McKinley

BIM/CADD Coordinator
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Joe Scerbo, CPD, GPD

Senior Plumbing Engineer
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Mary Click, PE, LEED AP BD+C

Senior Mechanical Engineer
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RJ Hartman, PE

Project Manager
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Matthew Lewis, PE

Principal
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Lucas Hoffmann, PE, LEED AP BD+C

Principal

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