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Opsis Architecture is designing a new basketball arena for the University of Idaho. The 4,700-seat facility will replace the ASUI Kibbie Activity Center, commonly called the Kibbie Dome, as the basketball team’s home.

鈥�(The Kibbie Dome) seats about 16,000 people, and they use it primarily during football season,鈥� said Chris Roberts, senior associate at Opsis Architecture. 鈥淥nce football is over, they use it as the basketball arena. They bring in portable bleachers against one side and build this portable arena, which has been the impetus for getting their own arena.鈥�

One of the key elements in Opsis Architecture winning the contract for the $30 million, 78,000-square-foot facility was its idea to showcase wood.

鈥淚t’s really about innovations within the wood industry,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淭he real interest is to have an innovative long-span structure over what is basically an assembly space, which is pretty unique.

鈥淭he push right now with wood is: How high can we go?鈥� he added. 鈥淭his is about innovative ways to cover a large area.鈥�

Designers will consider a variety of wood technologies, Roberts said. Opsis will work with KPFF Consulting Engineers and Hastings & Chivetta Architects to determine the right strategy for the facility.

鈥淲e teamed up with KPFF because they have such a strong input in a majority of the heavy timber work that is going on here locally and around the country,鈥� he said.

Many Portland-area firms specialize in timber, and that is expected to benefit the arena project team.

鈥淲e are fortunate that we have real leadership in mass timber,鈥� said Alec Holser, partner at Opsis Architecture. 鈥淥ne of our goals is to see how many ways we might be able to show wood in the project.鈥�

The associate dean of the university’s forestry department was on the selection committee that helped propel the interest in a wooden structure.

鈥淭hey really did think that part of the uniqueness will help attract students and fundraising,鈥� Holser said. 鈥淚t’s a privately funded project, so you need to attract fundraising. Going through this innovative wood in Idaho, you are really trying to get at that industry.鈥�

The biggest design challenge may be finding a strategy to handle snow loads. University officials are already talking with professionals within the Idaho forest products industry.

鈥淭hey are very interested seeing the lumber come from Idaho forests or from Idaho timber companies,鈥� Holser said.

The university’s teams compete in the Big Sky Conference. Officials hope the new facility will boost player recruitment efforts and help the men’s basketball team reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1990. The facility will also include offices, a practice gym and conference rooms for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

鈥淭heir hope is this helps establish their program,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淚n the (college) arms race, it’s all in the same realm for people upping the ante in their program to get those recruits in.鈥�

In the world of college athletics, having the biggest and best facilities is crucial in attracting top athletes.

鈥淚t’s a big part of it,鈥� Holser said. 鈥淚t’s not just the size; it’s the quality, the uniqueness that catches the kids’ attention.鈥�

The design team is aiming to create a one-of-a-kind arena. Currently, the project is in the design phase; completion is scheduled for the 2020 season.

鈥淎 lot of the proposal we submitted and interviewed for was around how to create this unique facility,鈥� Holser said. 鈥淲e want something that is unlike anything else in the country.鈥�

Design Beyond Borders is a 91视频 feature offering a look at the projects outside of Oregon being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact 91视频 architecture and engineering reporter Kent Hohlfeld at 503-802-7224 or [email protected].