Long Football Operations Center
South Carolina Football

Client: South Carolina Gamecock Football (Jack Porter)
Summary: For over three years, the Jack Porter team worked closely with the project’s architects, Gensler Sports and Quackenbush, to ensure the legacy and energy of Gamecocks Football were embedded in the 110,000 square foot, $50 million Football Operations Center. Both the facility as a whole and its many different interactive spaces were designed to present a seamless story of the spirit, tradition and achievement of the Gamecocks to fans, recruits, and players alike.

Upon entering the building, guests are met with a two-story video wall that presents an unforgettable welcome; the accomplished Gamecock media team creates custom content to keep the massive display both relevant and personal. The Heisman Trophy display and a multi-taction, multi-user interactive display anchor the massive room with all the history a fan could want. Below the stairs, an interactive Gameday experience welcomes users into a more intimate experience: what it’s like to be a player on gameday. On the opposite side of the transparent, expansive trophy wall, is another interactive fan-facing display. Again, leveraging the skilled internal creative team and their content, this display highlights the Under Armour “Battle Armor,” NFL highlights, and what it means to be in the SEC.

Past the atrium, supergraphics lead the way down the legacy corridor. To the left, leading into the weight room, retired numbers float above the names and images of their legends. “SPURS UP” hangs overhead, leading into the state-of-the-art facility. The opposite direction begins with a 16’ tall metal stadium graphic, visible through the atrium. Sixty feet of panels glow with statistics, awards, and wins, reminding current players of all who have come before them; on the opposite wall, a 13,000 SqFt mural featuring player greats tells players to, “Build your Legacy.” Entering the locker room, a gameday energy is all around— from bold murals, to custom lockers and dramatic lighting. Even the “simple” back wall, clad in a matte/gloss wallcovering is a photoshoot worthy tool for recruit visits.

The athlete entrance and corridor, exclusive to only current players and recruits, was a key component to the overall impact of the center. One of a kind, multimedia displays feature the unmistakable Gamecock football uniform and gear through motion-activated and timed hidden displays. An additional exhibit of top NFL talent born out of the Gamecocks program is where digital and physical converge to produce an unforgettable pinnacle to every recruit’s Long Family Center experience. Walking up to the wall, recruits see themselves and animations appear on the mirrored surface in front of them. Upon touching the helmets, haptic feedback tingles their hand as names and team logos appear behind the mirror. “Who’s next?” The display asks as young men see themselves.

2019 Citation Award AIA-SC

Roles: Creative direction, lead designer
Collaborators: 
Lynsey Hupp, sr. project manager
Fred Blevins, sr. production manager
Eric King, sr. director of projects
Danny Stemann, creative director
Grace German, project director
Nat Shane, sr. production designer
Theresa Marchi, graphic designer
Jake Andrews (signage), sr. designer
Dylan Drake (graphic styles), sr. designer
Eugenia Perez, design intern

Gensler Sports, architecture and interiors
Quackenbush Architects, architecture
Shield, lockers