Reed College, Watzek Sports Center

Built in 1965, the Watzek Sports Center experienced structural failure after a 2021 winter storm, resulting in a collapsed roof and clearly necessitating campus improvements. Stemming from the needs for this collapse, the 53,000sf gymnasium mass timber renovation and addition focuses on creating a more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible community center for the Reed College campus. The renovation upgraded the locker rooms, offices, original entrance, and common areas while the addition includes a new two-story basketball gym, fitness rooms, all-user restrooms, and an additional accessible entrance.

Fortis’ history and expertise in mass timber construction contributed to the successful incorporation of mass timber framing with a wood roof diaphragm and vertical CLT shear walls on exterior walls. With a focus on sustainability, the project incorporates a solar photovoltaic array on the roof, sawtooth windows for daylighting throughout the gyms, and the use of low-carbon concrete. The Fortis team worked closely with Reed College to ensure a safe environment that works around the College’s calendar to minimize disruption to the active campus and keep portions of the building open and available to students throughout construction. To address the project’s budget challenge in a volatile construction market, Fortis’ experience on athletic facilities and collaboration with ZGF led to explorations in structural, program, and material efficiencies. The team’s proposed strategies ultimately reduced the cost by 10% allowing the new Sports Center to provide the best value for Reed College and the community.