University of Oregon, Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center

Combining science & sport to promote student‑athlete wellness

Interior view of a sports performance facility featuring a central staircase with glass railings, a boxing ring with branded corner pads on the left, and a turf area on the right where an athlete stretches. Overhead, a ceiling installation displays a glowing “O” shape. The space includes wood and tile flooring, mirrored columns, and mounted screens showing a football game.

Client
University Of Oregon
Location
Oregon, United States
Size
30,000 square feet
Status
Completed

Named after Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, the Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center boasts advanced training equipment, recovery and rehabilitation spaces, sports science labs, and dedicated areas for nutrition and mental wellness. The state-of-the-art facility enhances athletic performance while prioritizing the overall well-being of athletes, exemplifying the future of sports training and development at the collegiate level.

The building has been pivotal in recruiting student-athletes. Prospective students and their families see such investments as a testament to the institution's commitment to athletic excellence and holistic development.

Entering from the west, student-athletes walk into a trophy lobby that is a stunning tribute to the building's namesake. Trophies for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award and Manning Award reside in the lobby.

This inspiring entrance leads to a skylit junction where innovation and applied science take center stage for Oregon’s student-athletes. The 30,000 square-foot interior renovation showcases remarkable technology and efficient space utilization, highlighted by the new mezzanine that maximizes the center's usable area.

Interior view of a long, enclosed corridor with a perforated black ceiling featuring a dense pattern of backlit duck silhouettes. The glossy walls display life-size images of a football player and text panels, while illuminated green pedestal displays line both sides of the space. A football is showcased in a central glass case at the far end of the corridor.
Interior view of a training area featuring an indoor turf sprint track with a gray running lane, surrounded by artificial grass. A person in athletic wear is mid-sprint. The space includes a perforated ceiling with repeated duck silhouettes, glass walls, and a viewing area with seating and monitors on the right. A staircase leads to the level below.

Sports science

The sports science unit contains several areas where the technology of the new facility truly shines. Motion capture cameras and force plates are located throughout the space. The cameras are used to capture a subject while performing virtually any movement, including sport-specific drills. Using force plates, staff can perform strength diagnostic tests to profile and identify areas of opportunity that will improve the performance of each student-athlete.

Testimonials

  • The facility is up there with the best in the world and will help us support our teams with better preparation and recovery for our student‑athletes. I look forward having conversations with coaches and student‑athletes around their performance questions and where we can support and impact on their preparation with data‑driven decision making.

    Andrew Murray Director of Performance and Sport Science

Recovery

The recovery area is a multipurpose space, with a gray Mondo floor inlayed with Oregon’s well-known feather pattern, that focuses on recovery following a game or practice. In addition, baseline measurements will be taken via a marker-less motion capture system to identify any deviations from a subject’s normal range, which can help identify where intervention needs to occur prior to injury.

Interior view of a recovery and treatment area featuring several padded tables with "Oregon" branding, reclining chairs along the right wall, and built-in cabinetry on the left. The ceiling is patterned with duck silhouettes, and a stairway with glass railings leads to the upper level. A glass-walled room at the back contains a circular treatment pod.
Interior view of a recovery room featuring four white, pod-like recliners with integrated hoods, each branded with a duck logo. The walls are covered in geometric-patterned acoustic panels in shades of gray. The ceiling is black with illuminated star-like points and silhouetted duck shapes, and the carpet includes a large tonal graphic.

The Haberdashery

Down the hall in the Haberdashery, there is also an over-sized armchair, complete with web foot legs – an Oregon spin on the traditional claw foot leg – with “fighting Ducks” attached to the ends of the arms, where student-athletes can test out a full range of the latest offerings from the equipment room.

Interior view of a wood-paneled equipment and fitting room with illuminated display cases showcasing footwear, gloves, socks, and a football uniform. A person sits on a built-in bench holding a pair of cleats. The space features decorative ceiling panels, green accent lighting, and a large carved wooden chair with athletic-themed engravings and a prominent “O” emblem.

Equipment storage and distribution

The Center is also home to the equipment room for the Ducks football team. The graphically engaging space uses compact shelving to store the vast array of uniforms, shoes, helmets and other gear used by the program. Areas for distributing gear to the players, as well as equipment maintenance and assembly, are included as part of this full service equipment room.

Interior view of a reception area with a black stone desk where two staff members are working. Behind them, a glass-walled equipment display shows football cleats arranged by color on illuminated shelves, along with two mannequins in green and yellow uniforms. The space features light wood flooring, a perforated ceiling, and frosted glass panels with printed text.
Interior hallway with a high ceiling featuring linear lighting and a perforated pattern of duck silhouettes. Large-scale black-and-white graphics of football players line the upper and lower walls, including a sliding storage unit partially open to reveal shelves of footballs. To the right, a wood-paneled space with green accent lighting and a large carved chair is visible.

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