Penn State Bill Koll Wrestling Locker Room Renovation

Penn State’s championship-winning wrestling team trains and competes at the highest levels as members of the Big Ten Conference. The wrestlers need modern and functional locker room facilities that support their success and match their toughness, intensity, and school pride.

Having recently completed improvements to other areas of the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex to elevate the team’s practice and competition spaces, Penn State sought to improve the locker room’s functionality and aesthetics.

The locker room is named after legendary Penn State wrestling coach Bill Koll, who guided the team to a 127-22-7 record over 14 seasons and whose legacy energized and motivated countless wrestlers and coaches in the decades since.

Inspired by Bill’s enthusiasm and spirit, GFT provided lead architecture and engineering services and R2Interiors provided interior design for the renovation of the 1,000-square-foot space that will serve the team well as they seek another national championship.

The existing lockers lacked an enclosed front, exposing the contents and making it difficult to maintain the room’s tidiness. New lockers have doors that hinge and slide to increase the room’s appearance of neatness and the wrestlers’ privacy.

The number of lockers was reduced from 50 to 40 to give each student-athlete more storage and personal space and to align more closely with roster size. Wider, deeper benches with cushioned tops provide additional storage and functionality.

The addition of a soffit from the top of the lockers to the ceiling prevents the storage of equipment and personal items above the lockers, contributing to a cleaner room. The soffit also hides the existing wall-mounted air filter from view. An air register in the new soffit wall helps the unit function properly.

Recessed lighting replaces suspended lighting fixtures to reduce the risk of damaged lights. Rope lighting above and below the lockers adds atmosphere.

GFT’s State College office is located within minutes of the Penn State campus, and many staff are graduates of the university and fans of the wrestling program. This project was an exciting way for them to contribute to the team’s success.