A return to the home field
My visit to the UC Davis Edwards Family Athletic Center (EFAC) and the UCD Health clinic became an unexpected homecoming—professionally and personally. But first a little about this striking facility.
I had the chance to tour the new Gensler-designed facility with James Maus from UC Davis Health. I met James back when he first joined the team and took on this project—and as a fellow Davis native, he brings a special connection to the work. More on that later.
My photographs do not do the project justice. See the architectural firm’s website for the original promotional images which always have more pop:
https://www.gensler.com/projects/uc-davis-student-athlete-performance-center
Two Facilities in One
From the architect’s description: Adjacent to UC Davis Health Stadium, this comprehensive training complex gives all UC Davis Student-Athletes a destination for building comradery and success on both a personal and team level. The… facility includes a sports medicine area with spaces for rehabilitation, taping/treatment, hydrotherapy and training, weight and cardio equipment areas, fuel station, an auditorium for academics and team meetings, offices, and an athlete lounge. UC Davis partnered with UC Davis Health to build the first of its kind sports medicine and physical therapy clinic within this facility.
In addition to the student athletics facility, the project includes a UCDHealth clinic that was intentionally embedded into the heart of the campus. From UCD Health: The facility is designed to support Aggie student-athletes and serves as a vital resource for the broader community including Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine and Radiology. The UC Davis Sports Medicine service evaluates sports injuries of the shoulder, knee, hip, and elbow, as well as degenerative conditions of the shoulder. The outpatient sports medicine clinic offers advanced care in a convenient, community-focused setting. Patients receive treatment from a team of experts, including their elite training and experience with professional sports teams, ensuring they receive top-tier treatment for sports injuries and orthopaedic conditions.
More Detail from UCD
Read more detail about the Edwards Family Athletics Center here from UC Davis:
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/aha-moment-leads-edwards-family-athletics-center
And now… some personal history
James is also a Davis native, with family still in town. Even though we grew up decades apart, we both share deep ties to the university. For me, it was especially meaningful—I grew up just a block from campus, right across Russell Boulevard from the sports facilities. Admittedly, I grew up as a total gym/field rat. My friends and I played soccer, baseball, and frisbee on the Intramural Fields, and we practically lived in Hickey Gym and the then-new Rec Hall—basketball, handball, racquetball, badminton, you name it. Rec Hall is now “The ARC,” expanded while I was with UC Davis Architects & Engineers.
Some of my best childhood memories come from the UC Davis campus—football games and track meets at Toomey Field, basketball games, and daring jumps off the high dive in Hickey Gym. Friends in Athletics and the Human Performance Lab always made sure we had gym access for indoor soccer when the winter fog rolled in. Baseball games and sessions at the batting cages filled the rest of our time.
Back to the Future
Decades later, I returned to UC Davis professionally at A&E. Our team—led by Jill Tomczyk and then Vanda Rovis—partnered with Brown Construction to build the new stadium on Hutchison Drive in 2007, now known as UC Davis Health Stadium. Located at the gateway between the Health Sciences District and the main campus, the stadium helped connect the medical, veterinary, and engineering precincts to the campus core.
Years later, when I led the UCD Health Facilities team, we partnered with the campus to begin planning a series of on-campus clinics—among them, the Edwards Family Athletics Center. James Maus took the lead for UCDH, working hand-in-hand with UC Davis to make the project real. The finished facility is a testament to his determination and his talent for navigating a complex, unconventional build.Later, I led the UCDHealth Facilities group to partner with UCD and initiate the planning and development of on campus clinics, including what is now known as the Edwards Family Athletics Center. James was the project manager for UCDH tasked with collaborating with UCD to build the facility. The successful facility is a testament to his determination and skills in delivering a unique, challenging project.
Conclusion – Many Thanks
Thank you to James Maus for the tour and his efforts in delivering the project with a talented team.
Thank you to UC Davis for being the anchor of the community.
Thank you to UCD Health for bringing sports medicine to the Davis campus and community
Thank you to the community, the donors and dedicated staff that make this unique facility a success.
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