Capozzoli Athletic Center

Conceived as a standalone facility for the Worcester Academy campus, the new Capozzoli Athletic Center delivers much-needed modernization and serves as a long-term investment in campus life, neighborhood vitality, and environmental resilience. The 72,000 SF center brings together athletics, wellness, and community spaces, including a three-court gymnasium, natatorium, fitness center, team suites, recruiting areas, and sports medicine facilities, all organized for flexibility and efficiency. Upper-level lounges and viewing areas connect directly to the outdoors and the adjacent athletic field.

The design draws from Worcester Academy’s historic campus language while interpreting it through contemporary architectural expression. Molded brick is refined with updated detailing and paired with limestone trim and cast-stone accents. Brick piers and a gently curving front wall trace the geometry of the adjacent oval lawn and define the main entrance. The bold masonry massing respects the site topography, and an existing copper beech tree anchors the front lawn, creating a clear sense of arrival.

The school approached Stanmar and DiMella Shaffer to develop a cost-effective building that still honors the campus traditions, achieved through the careful selection of masonry materials and details that bring a modern interpretation to the large athletic volumes. To offset added costs, a 30,000 SF photovoltaic array, now under construction, and a battery microgrid will offset nearly 93% of the building’s electrical demand.