Community Center for Athletics and Wellness
Catlin Gabel
The new Community Center for Athletics and Wellness (CCAW) will become the heart of this nationally recognized progressive independent school, bringing together more than 750 students, faculty, alumni and the community. Soon to be a public front door for the Catlin Gabel School campus, the CCAW emerged out of a growing need for one place to foster connection, celebrate big athletic wins and create a haven for wellness.
Size: 37,000 sf
Location: Portland, OR
Catlin Gabel’s current facilities limit opportunities for connection, creating the need for a single home where the community can come together to listen, learn and celebrate. The 37,000 sf hybrid center breaks away from traditional K-12 building programming by combining student dining, athletics and wellness, and community event spaces into one location.
Designed to unite students, faculty, families, alumni, and community members, the CCAW offers a range of spaces—from informal gathering areas and dedicated alumni and school history displays to classrooms and venues that can host up to 1,300 people for events like graduation.
The integrated athletic and wellness facilities—featuring a gymnasium with a competition court, two practice courts, a fitness and treatment room, and athletic and coaching offices—aim to transform the experience for current and future Catlin student-athletes and coaches. Aligned with the goal of bringing together families and the broader community, the gym will accommodate 800 spectators for sporting events.
Recognizing the important role wellness plays in students’ health, behavior, and academic performance, the center will include multi-use learning spaces to teach wellness and life skills. Built into the steep terrain, the center will seamlessly connect its wellness spaces with the natural setting of Catlin’s campus. Enhancing this connection to nature, the center will also feature terraces that support outdoor learning and small-scale gatherings.
