The College of Architecture and Planning (CA+P) celebrated the official grand opening of a newly renovated student facility that will serve as the creative space for the designs of the future.

On Friday, Sept. 6, the school welcomed visitors and dignitaries to the recently christened Studio Spaces at Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse. The new space is the result of collaborative efforts of the university administration and donor support.

“It is a tremendous honor for the College of Architecture and Planning to add the historic Einar Nielson Fieldhouse (western portion) as a permanent extension of the college’s physical footprint,” said Arnab Chakraborty, dean of CA+P. “I hope students benefit from this new space and feel a strong sense of pride in the college.”

The remodeled fieldhouse includes the Talmage Studio, named in honor of alum, Paul T. Walton Jr., and has dedicated spaces for over 150 sophomores and juniors, three flexible classrooms and an upcoming cluster of CA+P research centers. More studios are planned in the currently undeveloped mezzanine space.

“I see this place as a place where students come to engage, work and collaborate,” said Nicole Porter, chair of Multi-Disciplinary Design.

Third- and fourth-year students in the School of Architecture, third-year students in Multi-Disciplinary Design and one class within City and Metropolitan Planning will utilize the facility.

“I am incredibly excited to see what all of us do in this space,” said third-year architectural studies student Gabe Taylor-Swanson. “I’m excited to see the future of the fieldhouse.”

Chakraborty explained that the college has a robust growth and retention plan making the addition of new spaces imperative.

“The fieldhouse will help but will not solve our space needs and also coincides with significant expansion of the college facilities to include the Division of Games (Building 72),” Chakraborty said. “As we continue to look for new ways to serve our students, the college remains committed to adding more space and working with the campus and community partners to pursue opportunities collaboratively.”

“You’ve created a safe space for our students and for that, we thank you,” added School of Architecture chair Timothy Adekunle.

The total area of all current College of Architecture & Planning spaces in the fieldhouse is 11,200 square feet, with third-floor studio space (including a research suite) comprising 7,600 square feet, each of the two second-floor north classrooms is 800 square feet, and the second level south classroom has 1,600 square feet of space. The CA+P fieldhouse also includes the Hollaar Electrical Room, the 3form Studio, the Talmage Studio and the Gary Guy Wilson Studio.

Built in 1939 for $175,000, the fieldhouse gymnasium was the largest building on campus at the time. It was originally used for physical education classes and served as the home of the Utah men’s basketball team until 1969. During World War II, the facility housed soldiers and later served as a fitness center for students, faculty and alumni for many years.

Along with the CA+P space, the fieldhouse today also houses the new Meldrum Theatre, which hosts stage productions put on by Pioneer Theatre Company. Named in honor of donors Cathie and Pete Meldrum, the theater opened March 29, 2024, with a capacity of 387 patrons, with three sides of seats arrayed just inches from a “thrust” stage. Lighting and audio are provided from a catwalk above the stage. The space is also equipped with new dressing rooms, a scene shop space and a multipurpose area called the “Future Space.”