ZGF and Whiting-Turner upgrade Baltimore Ravens training facility

Architecture studio ZGF and Whiting-Turner have renovated a training facility used by the NFL team the Baltimore Ravens, using the American football team's moniker as a driving design concept.

The 20,000-square-foot (1,869-square-metre) Under Armour Performance Center – also known as The Castle – was overhauled by architects ZGF and contractors Whiting-Turner to improve the circulation, add state-of-the-art facilities and improve the user experience for both trainers and athletes.

The design team used a raven's nest as a guiding principle for the interior spaces, aiming to evoke a sense of power and focus as well as rest and recovery.

"Reimagined to reflect the Ravens' values and meet their evolving needs to support peak performance, the space boosts team connection, players' mental clarity, and physical recovery – all within a setting that blends understated sophistication with functionality," said a statement from the Maryland-based National Football League (NFL) team.

The facility's layout was reconfigured to organise spaces along a central spine that forms a looping path and avoids dead ends.

"In football, the principle of 'finding the hole' encourages players to seek the most direct and efficient path in each play," said the design team. "This philosophy inspired The Castle's improved and streamlined layout.”

New additions include a hydrotherapy centre that comprises a 50-foot (15 metres), two-lane lap pool, therapy pool, and hot and cold plunge pools – each large enough to fit 20 players at a time.

An array of custom-built infrared saunas and Cryotherm plunge pools was also incorporated for therapeutic benefits.

Material choices in these spaces – a warm wood ceiling and stone-effect porcelain tile – were influenced by a raven's forest habitat.

A skylight over the lap pool allows natural light into the room, adding to the spa-like ambiance of the suite.

"The hydrotherapy suite brings in biophilic design elements and evokes the atmosphere of a high-end spa, offering an elevated experience from a typical performance facility," said the team.

In the training areas, an open-plan layout was incorporated to improve sightlines for trainers and athletes and offer better spatial flow.

A new 135-foot-long (41-metre) operable glass wall opens to the practice field, flooding the room with natural light and creating an indoor-outdoor connection.

"Before the renovation, the training room was crowded with medical treatment tables," the design team said. "Now, a dedicated and adjacent private clinic gives players and staff a discrete space to seek care."

Custom graphics that depict ravens are applied to feature walls around The Castle.

Examples include an artistic emblem in the hydrotherapy suite that depicts an open-winged bird with 53 smaller ones – nodding to the number of players on an active NFL roster.

Construction was phased around the NFL calendar to avoid disruption, and work was completed ahead of the 2025 season.

Architecture for American football primarily revolves around the giant stadiums in which teams play. Recently completed or renovated venues include the homes of the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints, while seven massive stadiums are currently under development across the US.

Each season culminates in the Super Bowl, which pits the winners of the NFL's two conferences against one another, and is hosted at a different stadium every year.

Last year's Super Bowl took place at the Manica Architecture-designed Allegiant Stadium in Nevada, which is typically home to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The photography is by Ema Peter.

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