Washington Breaks Ground On Softball Performance Center - University of Washington Athletics

University of Washington Athletics has begun construction on its brand-new, state-of-the-art, 5,500-square-foot softball performance center soon to be added to the Husky Softball Stadium landmark. The new facility, which is fully donor funded, will allow for year-round training regardless of the weather and gives student-athletes access to the best training resources available.

Athletes will have access to brand-new hitting tunnels, with automatic nets that can be moved to allow for up to five different athletes to hit at any one time. With all the nets raised by the built-in mechanical system, the facility is large enough to allow for any infield drills on its AstroTurf synthetic surface.

A number of features give the performance center an ease of use and a gameday atmosphere. Cameras are integrated throughout the facility to allow coaches and athletes to easily review video at any time. A central sound system allows for music and public address access. Lighting within has the capacity for broadcast-standard stadium lighting.

There are strength, flexibility, and power built throughout the facility as well to allow for all manner of training. For post-workout recovery, the performance center is equipped with a light therapy recovery system.

The building of the Dempsey Indoor Facility was monumental, providing the team an indoor facility to practice rain or shine. This is just as big for our program. It’s a game changer. It took a lot to get to this point as a program and the donors that contributed are the ones who made this happen, along with the support of Jen Cohen and the administration.

Head Coach Heather Tarr

With its close proximity to Husky Softball Stadium, these new facilities will be easy to access for the Huskies while also providing everything needed to compete at the highest level in the country. Additionally, this construction will have little impact on the natural beauty of the athletics campus: over 40 trees in the area of the construction will be untouched or re-planted nearby. Almost 30 new trees will be planted near the footprint of the performance center as well. Additionally, the entire facility will be ADA compliant. The project will be led by Mortenson Construction and SRG Architects and is scheduled to be completed in fall of 2021.

I couldn’t be more excited to get this project underway. This state-of-the-art facility is a testament to Coach Tarr and all the former players for the incredible program they have built and demonstrates our commitment to softball at the highest level at the UW. This group is so deserving of this updated space as they train to continue to be a national power. The student-athlete experience is greatly benefited by our loyal donors and their generosity on this project will leave a lasting impact on all current and future Huskies. We are so appreciative of their support and we can’t wait to get our softball team in this new facility soon.

Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen

We can’t wait as a program to move forward with this facility. Our success to this point is a result of our daily training and how we go about our business, and this facility will give us more opportunities to train and enhance what we can do in training. For our athletes to be able to go in and hit on their own or train on their own is huge.

Head Coach Heather Tarr