Duke University
Challenge
Accepted.
Duke Tennis sought an upgrade to Sheffield Tennis Center that celebrates its successful men’s and women’s tennis programs, athletes, and accolades.
It's amazing. It blows everything out of the water that we were hoping for. Duke did it the right way.
Excerpt from goduke.com article “Tennis Programs Receive First Look at Renovated Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center”
Ramsey Smith
Head Coach, Duke Men's Tennis
THE DETAILS
SNAPSHOT
Client: Duke University
Client: Duke Athletics
Architect: New City Design Group
Location: Durham, NC
EXPERTISE
Digital Installation
Placemaking
Experiential Design
Facilities/Campus Branding
Digital Signage
MARKET
Athletic Facilities
Higher Education
Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center, home to the Duke Blue Devils Men’s & Women’s Tennis Teams, was renovated and expanded to better accommodate its robust program, celebrate athletes, and highlight team accolades.
Experiential design firm ZEBRADOG was retained by Duke Athletics to create a cohesive branded facility with signature spaces that energize this talented team and delight new recruits.
Over the past year and a half, the tennis facility underwent significant renovations to its locker rooms, coaches’ offices, training room, and conference room. In addition, new amenities for student-athletes provide a comfortable place to relax, refuel, and meet as a team in the lounge and kitchen. All thoroughly branded with Honor Blue and all it stands for.
ZEBRADOG experience designers created unique features throughout the facility, including an illuminated Duke D surrounded by 1,200 Duke blue tennis balls that make an irresistible photo opp in the main lobby, a custom-designed conference table that doubles as a table tennis game in the Club 40 Love team lounge as well as an invitation to alumni to sign a white tennis ball displayed in a chain link fence reminiscent of the outdoor courts where athletes honed their skills.
“This was a vision we had a long time ago and to see it come to fruition is incredible. To see the athletes’ reactions was worth the wait,” said Jamie Ashworth, Head Coach, Duke Women’s Tennis.
#GoDuke #BlueDevils #WeAreDuke
Areas of Impact
Main Lobby
Upon entering the main lobby, there is an immediate sense of Duke pride and accomplishment. Duke accolades are celebrated in a “by the numbers” style inspired by manual tournament scoreboards. The most prominent feature is a wall featuring 1,200 Duke Blue tennis balls surrounding an illuminated Duke D. It’s a must-stop for visitors and future athletes to grab a selfie.
Team Lounge
Club 40 Love is a vibrant team lounge for athletes to socialize featuring soft drop-down spaces, nutritious snacks, and a custom-designed conference table that doubles as a table tennis game. Alumni are invited to sign a tennis ball for the exhibit designed to celebrate Duke Tennis pride and inspire future athletes in the program. 920 white and 240 blue tennis balls spell out DUKE.
HUZZAH!
