New Student Athletics Facility at Saint Ignatius College Prep Chicago
St. Ignatius College Prep is a Catholic school in the heart of Chicago. This beautiful high school campus is one of the best schools in Chicago. Determined to excel in every aspect of education, they recently expanded their campus to include a brand new 5,000 square foot student athletics facility.
With a mission to provide the best possible facility to their students, St. Ignatius asked The Fitness Connection (TFC) team to create a design that was functional, cost effective, and show-stopping.
“We felt an immediate connection with TFC in terms of who would be a great partner and could take our needs and make them a reality”
When planning this facility, it was important to make maximum use of a unique two-level floor plan. St. Ignatius’ vision included plenty of strength equipment, HIIT Cardio, and a functional turf zone.
Designing a space catered to athletes requires a specific approach that differs from a typical gym layout. It is important to choose equipment that provides value to athletic training and caters to a team mentality.
With collaboration from the Athletic Director and the informed perspective of the TFC team, this space does just that.
Wolfpack Worthy Equipment
St. Ignatius athletes deserved a space to call their own, along with equipment to make that space last for years to come.
The first floor features a robust free weights area with equipment from Matrix Fitness including multiple customized MEGA Racks, a plethora of dumbbells, and kettlebells.
There is also a large flex space that can be used for functional workouts, recovery, and stretching.
Upstairs, students have the opportunity to continue their weight training on targeted selectorized cable machines, glute/ham benches, and ab benches from Matrix.
Additionally, there is a HIIT Cardio section with Air Bikes and Air Runners from Assault Fitness.
And who could miss the show stopper of the second level, the functional turf zone. This zone has all of the essentials to functional training a student athlete could hope for. From a Torque Tank, to an Escape tire, soft plyo boxes and more!
The extensive and athlete focused equipment offering at Saint Ignatius College Prep are tailored to the needs of all students and will be an exciting place for future athletes to thrive.
#PackPride
You can’t have a student athletics facility without a whole lot of school pride.
This facility is packed full of #PackPride.The layout and branding of the room carries over to the equipment itself.
From the pads to the frames, all benches and racks were customized to be St. Ignatius maroon and gold. The dumbbells even feature the iconic St. Ignatius Crest Mark.
“The communication (with TFC) has been outstanding in terms of making any adjustments along the way, delivery timelines, and helping us imagine this space and what it could be.”
A Lasting Legacy
This project is a byproduct of teamwork on both sides. With the input of the Athletic Director, Coaches and the TFC team, this athletics facility is tailored to student athletes and will continue to help student success for years to come.
Since the opening of the facility, students have been excited to come in for their early morning workouts. Faculty and students alike feel the facility has given them a space to dedicate to their sport and a means for them to be their best.
