University of Maryland, College Park

When Ritchie Coliseum opened in 1930, the seats were cast-in-place concrete bleachers with locker rooms and other program areas in odd configurations beneath. Before Ayers/Saint/Gross was hired to provide renovations, it was assumed the bleachers could not be removed and functional improvements would be minimal.

After exploring several options, Ayers/Saint/Gross created a design to replace the bleachers and excavate the interior space to create a basement. The result was an additional 5,000 gsf of program space as well as an NCAA regulation court, retractable fixed seating, and compliance with ADA specifications.

Despite a 12 percent increase in program area, the budget was increased only by 3.5 percent.

Completion: 1997
Size: 53,100 gsf
Cost: $6.9 million