The project: A public-private partnership, first envisioned in 2014, to provide a versatile and sustainable facility to accommodate multiple types of events and activities for University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students and the community. The complex replaces UW-Eau Claire’s Zorn Arena.

Project amenities: The new complex houses an event center, fieldhouse, UW-Eau Claire’s Center for Health and Wellbeing, and the Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Center. The event center has a capacity of 5,000 and hosts large events including UW-Eau Claire basketball, volleyball and other athletic competitions; concerts; tradeshows; and conventions. The 81,300-sf fieldhouse includes a 100-yard artificial turf field for football and other athletic, intramural sports, and club practices, as well as for use by the community and the Mayo Clinic rehabilitation and training personnel. The two-story Center for Health and Wellbeing includes coach’s offices, meeting rooms, concessions, and locker rooms. The diagnostic and sports imaging clinic for the Mayo Clinic Health System offers sports medicine, treatment, rehabilitation, performance training, and nutritional assistance.

Design approach: The complex is a beacon of sustainability, achieving LEED Gold and WELL HSR certifications. Environmental Studies students at UW-Eau Claire had the opportunity to observe first-hand the installation of the geothermal heating and cooling system designed by IMEG. The geothermal system includes 190 five hundred foot deep vertical wells under the parking lot serving a modular heat recovery chiller inside the building. The geothermal system was sized for the anticipated typical building load and is supplemented by an air cooled chiller and electric boilers for peak loading that occurs during large events or infrequent circumstances. This hybrid approach acknowledges the limited number of hours where peak loading occurs so the life cycle cost is optimized.

Additional sustainable design includes:

  • LED lighting throughout the facility
  • All-electric building (other than the Mayo Clinic which utilizes natural gas)
  • Occupancy sensors for lighting and HVAC
  • Daylighting
  • Low flow plumbing fixtures
  • Goals of net-zero energy and net-zero carbon. Partnering with Xcel Energy for electricity to come from off-site PV solar farm

Project outcome: The complex honors UW-Eau Claire alumni John and Carolyn Sonnentag who donated the land for the project. The John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse and the Sonnentag Event Center provide value to the broader community through large events and performance, bringing to life the Sonnentags’ mission.