Athletics
Lathan McKee Architects is dedicated to designing state-of-the-art facilities that elevate the game for athletes, teams, and fans. We create dynamic and inspiring venues that host thrilling competitions, foster community spirit, and endure for generations.
At Lathan McKee Architects, we create athletic designs made for training, coaching, practicing, competing and celebrating community spirit.
Our approach to Athletic Design:
• A Team Partnership: We partner with schools, universities, municipalities, and private organizations to design high-performance athletic facilities. We begin every project by working closely with athletic directors, coaches, and key stakeholders to understand their strategic goals, user needs, and budget. Our process is rooted in delivering designs that are not only aesthetically impressive but also optimized for functionality, performance, and long-term value.
• A Winning Game Plan: Our integrated design approach combines sports knowledge with architectural excellence to create innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions. We provide comprehensive planning services for campuses and organizations to maximize facility usage and future potential. From collegiate stadiums to community fitness centers, our designs focus on maximizing potential, promoting wellness, and creating spaces where every athlete can thrive.
Helena High School Athletics
After the formation of a new Helena High school district by the Shelby County Board of Education, there became a need for a new High School Building along with athletic fields and support buildings for the new Football, Baseball, Track/Field, and Softball programs. The project consisted of a new Football field with natural turf and a track around the perimeter with seating for 4,200 constructed of aluminum with a premanufactured press box, a fieldhouse, home, and visitor concessions with toilet facilities were provided and designed in complimentary architecture to the High School Building. The baseball and softball fields were designed with identical 2 story Concession/ Press box buildings, Home, and Visitor dugouts. These were constructed out of Split-Faced CMU wood roof framing and prefinished metal roofing. Toilets for the fans were constructed in the visitor dugouts with a locker room as part of the home dugout. The package also included a band practice field and a soccer field. The site was on a hill side that had to be graded down in a cut and fill method to provide the plateaued areas for the school and athletic complex. In addition to this there were mines that required entrances to be sealed and shored.
Thompson High School Athletics
The Thompson High School Athletic Complex is a $19.2 million, comprehensive athletics development designed to support one of Alabama’s premier high school athletic programs. The project includes a 5,500-seat football stadium and a 58,000-square-foot athletic support complex anchored by a 30,000-square-foot indoor practice facility. The complex also encompasses weight training areas, field houses, baseball and softball stadiums, track and field facilities, and tennis courts—creating a fully integrated athletic campus. Designed to provide state-of-the-art amenities for student-athletes, coaches, and spectators, the facility enhances training capabilities, game-day experience, and program operations. Completed in February 2018, the athletic complex is a key component of the broader $68 million Thompson High School campus development, addressing the rapid growth of the Alabaster community while delivering a high-performance environment that supports competitive excellence and long-term program sustainability.
Hewitt-Trussville High School Softball Complex
The complex features a premier softball field, covered bleacher seating, a fully equipped press box, modern dugouts, and a dedicated softball fieldhouse. The fieldhouse includes locker rooms and an indoor hitting facility, providing athletes with top-tier amenities for training and game-day preparation. Known as Roberts Stadium, this complex sets a new standard for high school softball venues, and we look forward to countless memorable games here for years to come.
Troy University North End Zone
The Troy University North End Zone expansion enhances both game-day experience and daily football operations. The 82,200-square-foot facility provides over 70,000 square feet of dedicated program space integrated seamlessly into the existing stadium. The project includes a new locker room complex, mud room, team lounges, Strength & Conditioning center, nutrition and training areas, hydrotherapy and recovery pools, equipment storage and repair, laundry facilities, coaches’ offices, and team meeting rooms. Recruiting-focused amenities include a sponsor trophy wall and media entertainment wall. Game-day features include a 35-by-90-foot video board and 400 premium club seats. Designed to complement the stadium’s architecture, the facility strengthens Troy University’s athletic brand while delivering modern, performance-driven amenities for student-athletes and fans alike.
Oxford High School Athletic Facility
The Oxford High School Athletics Facility in Oxford, Alabama, part of Oxford City Schools, is a 60,000 square foot new construction addition serving grades 9 through 12, featuring a 40-yard full-width indoor practice facility, weight rooms, locker rooms for home and visitors, equipment storage, a trainer/medical room, an auditorium-style team meeting room, coaches’ offices with balconies and conference rooms, multipurpose rooms, a trophy display, roof terrace, and concessions.
“Their attention to all phases of construction is so important to the success of a project, coming in on time and under budget.”
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