University of Virginia
The UVA Athletics Master Plan represents an eight-year effort to transform the University of Virginia’s athletic facilities into state-of-the-art spaces for student-athletes. Designed to enhance performance, training, and overall experience, the plan was executed in three phases: redevelopment of the turf fields and site, construction of the Hardie Football Operations Center, and completion of the Harrison Family Olympic Sports Center, all of which were completed by Barton Malow.
This seven-acre redevelopment was constructed on the site of the old University Hall Basketball Facility. Sitework included significant re-grading of the existing site and the re-routing of all associated utilities. Existing utilities were required to remain active while the mass excavation was being completed, and new utilities were installed. The sitework also included a new stormwater detention system to capture new net runoff from the expanded parking area west of McCue Hall. New work installations included two site earth-retaining wall systems, a new pre-engineered athletic storage building, and two full-size football fields with associated athletic lighting and camera poles. Additionally, renovations were made to the west elevation of the existing Welsh Practice Facility (constructed by Barton Malow in 2013) to add an observation mezzanine, viewing window, and three new roll-up style doors. All elements of this project were executed without disrupting the existing athletics activities and events.
A cornerstone of Virginia sports, the UVA Cavaliers football program earned a first-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coastal division in 2019 and has posted a 16-4 home record over the last three years. The team has performed its way to a much-needed home makeover.
As the second phase of the UVA Athletics Master Plan, the Hardie Football Operations Center is a two-story, 78,000-SF training facility for student-athletes, located between the football team’s prior home, the McCue Center, and the Barton Malow-built Welsh Practice Facility. Construction began in the summer of 2022 with the demolition of the existing artificial turf training field. In June of 2023, steel erection for the structure was completed and celebrated in tandem with a groundbreaking for the third phase of the master plan, the Harrison Family Olympic Sports Center. The Hardie Football Operations center opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in June of 2024, where players, coaches, and university stakeholders got their first look at the brand-new home of Virginia Football.
The new facility features state-of-the-art locker rooms, a two-story strength and conditioning room, nutrition spaces, team meeting areas, sports medicine rooms for treatment and recovery, coaches’ offices, and additional amenities. See a full video tour of the project and its student-athlete amenities below.
As part of Barton Malow’s internship program, UVA student and linebacker Joe Holland was placed with the Football Operations Center project team during the summer of 2023. Not only did he have a hand in the project’s construction, including acting as a tour guide to the ACC Network during a televised visit, but he also trained there with his teammates during his senior season. Hear more about Joe’s internship experience on the Said Differently podcast.
The Harrison Family Olympic Sports Center is a 107,000-square-foot facility designed to support over 800 student-athletes across 27 Olympic sports, a number of which had been serving their teams out of temporary trailers while awaiting a new space. The project consolidates key resources—strength and conditioning spaces, dedicated locker rooms, sports medicine and rehabilitation areas, nutrition stations, and academic support rooms—into one centralized location. This design improves efficiency and accessibility, reducing the need for athletes to move between multiple buildings.
Additional features include a Hall of Champions, tutoring spaces, and the Center for Citizen Leaders and Sports Ethics, aligning with UVA’s goal of combining athletic training with academic and leadership development. Completed directly adjacent to the Hardie Football Operations Center and overlapping in construction for more than a year, Barton Malow was tasked with managing several challenges, including tight site constraints, coordination with ongoing campus operations, and an aggressive schedule. Through lean construction methods, digital modeling, and prefabrication, the team delivered a high-performance facility that meets UVA’s standards for excellence.
The UVA Athletics Master Plan has delivered modern facilities that support student-athletes across all sports. These spaces provide the training, recovery, and academic resources needed to perform and succeed. Together, they reflect UVA’s commitment to creating an environment where athletes can reach their full potential.