Growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Angie’s world revolved around the Green Bay Packers. It wasn’t until middle school that she discovered running. This newfound love for running blossomed through high school, where she was also introduced to architecture through her art teacher—providing an intersection for her loves of art and math.
Angie was determined to pursue both her passions of running and architecture. Thanks to an athletic scholarship, she joined the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s track and cross-country teams, eventually becoming captain of both teams.
As a collegiate athlete in architecture school, what were some of the lessons and values you learned taking on that type of workload?
“Throughout college, architecture and athletics was a nearly impossible combination but it gave me an unshakable work ethic that I carry to this day. Running with my team also taught me the importance of teamwork. It’s never a ‘me’ thing, it’s always an ‘us’ thing. And honestly, I think the biggest value I learned in my running career was coachability. Being able to receive feedback, and not see it as criticism but coaching, has really helped me.”
Connecting your athletic experience with architecture, what do you remember most about your own sports facilities?
“When I was a freshman, UWM was renovating our athletic facilities, and I remember when it opened my sophomore year, I was just blown away. We had hydrotherapy and other premium training spaces where we received care for our never-ending ailments. We had our own weight room and locker room that, looking back, were the places where we bonded as a team. Having team bonding spaces was really important. I think amplifying player lounges and having intentional places for connection would benefit every athletic program.”
When you think of sports facility projects now in your career, are there any that stand out?
“Definitely. It was my very first sports project, which was an indoor track facility for South Dakota State University. It was special because I had just moved to a new city and new job, and this project felt like a wink from the universe that I was in the right place. Wen I was in college, it was rare and exciting to get to compete on a 300-meter indoor track. The facility that we designed at SDSU had a 300-meter track with chock-absorbing sports flooring and all the bells and whistles that a track athlete could dream of. It was the coolest project I could have ever been a part of at that time in my life, and I remember at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a track student-athlete was in tears when she thanked us for our work. That project will always be my favorite, even after working on professional sports facilities and Big 10 stadiums.”
With the prevalent growth of women’s sports and women’s sports facilities, are there any distinct differences in these new facilities?
“From what I’ve seen and experienced, women have different training and recovery needs. Nutrition is completely different for men and women. So if you are building a facility intended to produce peak athletes, it’s important to tailor those spaces to your athletes rather than making them one size fits all. And professional sports, there are other needs to think through, like childcare. To be able to provide a way for women to have children, have their children cared for, and also still compete at the highest level, is something that needs consideration”
What is the best way to address these needs and ensure the coaches, trainers, and athletes are represented in the design process?
“Getting to speak to athletes and athletic staff is my favorite part of the whole process. It’s so interesting to dive into a day in the life of a coach or trainer to hear their ideal flow of space, programmatic requirements, and preferred training equipment in order to make their athletes the best they can be. I feel like it’s especially an advantage when you’ve been in the trenches as an athlete, you have that shared experience and speak the same language. After spending countless hours training, I can easily picture myself in these spaces and empathize with their needs. Those conversations are so important because every coach and trainer is different. For instance, with hydrotherapy, some like hot water, while others prefer ice cold. Nowadays, another important layer of the discussion is recruiting. Where is the recruiting trail, what spaces should we highlight, and what areas can we personalize? These are all the types of questions that coaches and architects now have to think about.”
In discussions with coaches, trainers, and athletes, what have been prevalent issues coming to the forefront?
“In terms of the player spaces, many are realizing the role of mental health in sports. There is so much pressure put on these athletes and providing comfortable spaces is imperative. Spaces like yoga rooms, meditation rooms, and wellness rooms, help to normalize mental health through architecture. If the space is there, players can feel more encouraged to tend to their mental health needs.”
You’ve been with Generator since the opening of CPKC Stadium, the world’s first purpose-built stadium for a women’s professional sports team. How do you think that project has propelled the momentum of women’s sports facilities?
“Being at the opening match of CPKC Stadium felt like the beginning of a movement, and you could just feel it. It’s hard to describe the energy that was at that game. I’m so excited about the ripple effect this is having on the industry and on other industries, like apparel, fan engagement, and food and beverage. You go to a KC Current game and there’s a line out the door for their team store, there are local and natural food options, and the fan base tends to care about composting and recycling. It’s a new era, and women’s sports are changing the way we think about everything.”