University of Georgia unveils new softball training facility at Jack Turner Stadium

This fall was an exciting time for the University of Georgia (UGA) softball players and staff, as their state-of-the-art $38.5 million softball training facility was revealed for the first time at Jack Turner Stadium.

Designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC), the new building serves as the University’s new softball clubhouse and indoor practice facility, featuring more than 20,000 square feet of development space for the student-athletes.

“This project was born from UGA Athletics’ vision of an elite student-athlete experience that enhances recruiting, streamlines day-to-day operations and provides state-of-the-art training and recovery spaces,” said GMC Sports Architect Erik Consuegra, AIA. “Having worked with the University and Athletics throughout the design and construction of this project has been an absolute pleasure for us at GMC. We’re excited to see this project come to fruition and observe the part it plays in the future development of the program.”

GMC worked with the client to conduct path studies that show the athletes’ natural flow of movements, implementing the findings into a cohesive facility design.

As the athletes make their way off the diamond, they pass by a porch nestled into the building and enter onto the second floor of the Bulldogs’ facility, greeted instantly by a mud room to de-cleat. Entering further into the space, the players have the option to visit the locker room featuring vanities, restrooms and shower; a team meeting area; a hydrotherapy space; a sports medicine room; or the indoor hitting facility equipped with a four-lane batting cage with retractable nets and full practice turf infield.

Down the stairs to the first floor sits the lounge and dining area, along with a 6,300-square-foot weight room to be shared with additional sports such as soccer, equestrian and both men’s and women’s golf. The main floor also holds space for laundry, equipment, offices and storage.

Exterior components such as seating walls wrapped around the building were added to provide further opportunities for fan engagement, in addition to a separate ADA compliant entrance to the field through the entry lobby of the facility.

“It’s amazing working with a client that has a true vision for their project and is all in on creating the best facility for their players and staff,” said Architecture Project Leader Matthew Nicholson, NCARB. “The trust that UGA put into our team to realize this vision was invigorating and really pushed us as architects to think outside of the box and to create spaces that are greater than we could have imagined.”

By coordinating with the client and contractor to develop a phased renovation plan, the team prioritized areas for improvement and established clear timelines and milestones for each phase. Regular meetings and updates were held to help address any concerns or issues, allowing for timely adjustments and solutions, ultimately delivering a seamless and satisfying experience for all involved.

“The team approach between our partners and consultants was absolutely outstanding throughout the entire process. From beginning to end, we all had one goal: never lose sight of the player experience. We’re very excited to say we were able to accomplish exactly that and finish strong,” said Vice President of Georgia Architecture Amy Bell, AIA.

The 2025 season will begin in February, with Jack Turner Stadium hosting the SEC Tournament in May – the second time UGA has hosted the event, with the first being in 2006.

GMC provided architecture, interior design, civil engineering and electrical engineering services on the project. Partners include RW Allen Construction as the general contractor, PES Structural Engineers as the structural engineer, Conway & Owen as the mechanical and plumbing engineer, Koons Environmental Design as the civil engineer and landscape architect, Fisher Engineering as the building and fire code consultant and Forty Nine Degrees who provided branding design, fabrication and installation.