Florida Gators

The Gator gymnastics team perfect their routines in one of the nation’s top practice facilities. Renovation to the prior practice facility, which served the program since the Stephen C. O’Connell Center opened in 1980, began in May of 2012 and was completed in late December of 2012. The north wall of the O’Connell Center was pushed out to add 6,600 square feet to the facility, now giving the team 18,500 square feet to tumble, dance, flip and fly.

The upgrades and additions to the facility include:

• Three vaults, two with resi-pit landing areas and one with a deep-foam pit
• Four balance beams plus two supplemental practice beams
• Four sets of uneven bars.
• A floor exercise area
• An in-ground trampoline and tramp-bar
• An in-ground tumble trampoline and 60-foot rod floor leading to deep foam pit.
• A channel pit with spotting platforms
• A single bar trainer over foam pit
• High-definition video recorders and monitors at each workout station – allowing instant feedback for coaches and gymnast
• Cardio exercise equipment within studio space
• New offices for coaching and support staff adjacent to the studio
• Office area includes main lobby welcoming visitors with seating, graphics and team recognition
• A new training room and nutrition bar for student-athletes

The facility also implemented numerous sustainable initiatives in the design and construction, earning it a LEED Gold rating.