Capozzoli Athletic Center

Conceived as a standalone facility for the Worcester Academy campus, the new Capozzoli Recreation and Fitness Center brings much-needed modernization and capacity to the student body and athletics programs at the academy. Replacing the aging Daniels Gymnasium, the 72,000 SF athletic center houses the campus gymnasium, natatorium, fitness center, and associated locker rooms, sports medicine, and administration offices.

The facility adjoins the existing football and soccer field and incorporates a gracious series of stepped seat walls into the landscape for spectators. Located at a major Worcester intersection, the building serves as a gateway to the campus precinct, welcoming visitors to the school’s athletic programs. An existing large specimen copper beech tree centered on the playing field serves as an organizational element for the various building components and anchors the front lawn that connects the street to the front entrance.

Conscious of budget, the school approached Stanmar and DiMella Shaffer to develop a cost-effective building while still honoring the architectural history of the campus. The design pays homage to their tradition through careful selection of masonry materials and details that apply to the large athletic volumes through a modern lens.