Payne Whitney Gymnasium facts for kids
 |
|
| Location | 70 Tower Pkwy New Haven, CT 06511 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°18′49″N 72°55′50″W / 41.31361°N 72.93056°W |
| Owner | Yale University |
| Operator | Yale University |
| Capacity | 2,532 (Lee Amphitheater) 2,178 (Kiphuth Exhibition Pool) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1932 |
| Architect | John Russell Pope |
| Tenants | |
| Yale Bulldogs (basketball, fencing, gymnastics, squash, swimming, & volleyball) |
|
The Payne Whitney Gymnasium is a huge gym at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. It's one of the biggest sports buildings ever made! Inside, it has twelve acres of space. There's even a nine-story tower with a swimming pool on the third floor. You can also find places for fencing and even a room to practice polo.
This amazing building is home to many Yale sports teams. These include basketball, fencing, gymnastics, squash, swimming, and volleyball. It is the second-largest gym in the world when measured by its total volume.
The gym was a gift to Yale from John Hay Whitney in 1926. He donated it to honor his father, Payne Whitney. The building looks like an old castle because it was built in the Gothic Revival style. This style was popular at Yale between 1920 and 1945. Because of its look, people often call it "the cathedral of sweat." The architect, John Russell Pope, even won a Silver Medal for his design at the 1932 Olympic Games Art Competition.
Near the entrance, you can see the original Handsome Dan. He was the first bulldog mascot for Yale and the first college mascot in the United States. His stuffed figure is kept safe in a glass cabinet.
Contents
Awesome Sports Facilities at Yale
The gym has many different areas for sports and activities. Let's explore some of them!
John J. Lee Amphitheater: Home of Basketball
The Yale basketball team plays its games in the John J. Lee Amphitheater. This area was named in 1996 after John J. Lee. He was a great basketball player and helped pay for many repairs. The volleyball and gymnastics teams also compete here.
Robert J. H. Kiphuth Exhibition Pool: Swimming Action
Across from the Amphitheater is the Robert J. H. Kiphuth Exhibition Pool. This pool has six lanes and is 25 yards long. It's where the Yale swimming teams have their competitions. The pool is named after Yale's famous swimming coach and athletic director.
Training Pools and Courts
Behind the gym, there are three crew tanks. These are used by the rowing teams for training. Above these tanks is the Practice Pool. It's one of the biggest suspended swimming pools in the world! It has five lanes, is 50 meters long, and has two movable walls. Above the Practice Pool, you'll find courts for recreational basketball.
Fitness and Squash Centers
The Adrian "Ace" Israel Fitness Center is located above the Kiphuth Exhibition Pool. Above the Amphitheater, you'll find the Brady Squash Center. This center is one of the best competition places for squash in the world. It also houses the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame. On the roof of the Squash Center, there's a small outdoor track for running.
The Tower and Lanman Center
The tall tower of the gym holds several interesting spots. There's the Kiphuth Trophy Room, which displays cool sports items. These range from Harvard-Yale game balls to Olympic gold medals. The tower also has multi-purpose areas, a fencing salon, and a gymnastics studio.
The Lanman Center is located behind the Amphitheater wing. It offers a huge amount of extra space for various activities. It also has a running track that goes around the facility on a balcony.
Gym Upgrades and Improvements
-
The Kiphuth Exhibition Pool
-
The large Practice Pool
-
Squash courts ready for action
-
A modern fitness center
-
Another view of the fitness center
The William K. Lanman Center was a new part added to the gym in 1999. It brought more courts for basketball and volleyball, plus an indoor running track. This was the first step in a big renovation project that cost $100 million.
In 2006, the outside of the building was repaired. Workers fixed flashing and stopped leaks. Other improvements included new banners and benches for the Kiphuth Exhibition Pool. The floor in the Lee Amphitheater was also redone. Plus, the Practice Pool's water filter system was updated.
External Links
- Payne Whitney Gym at Yale.edu
