Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina University and Catamount Athletics have selected the services and expertise of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture (MPS) to lead architectural and design planning for the department's planned facility upgrades.
McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture was selected following a presentation evaluation review process. The selection of the firm was approved by the WCU Board of Trustees on Friday, June 9. WCU and the State Construction Office will now begin negotiating with MPS to formally enter a design contract.
"McMillan Pazdan Smith is widely recognized as one of the top architecture firms in the region," said Alex Gary, WCU Director of Athletics. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with them as we transform the athletic campus at Western Carolina University."
Among the priorities of the comprehensive fundraising campaign are expansions for WCU's strength and conditioning, sports medicine and academic space for student-athletes. Updates to E.J. Whitmire Stadium will include a new press box, premium space for fans, a rebuilt east concourse, football offices and meeting space, and a new football locker room. The Catamounts will look to vacate Camp Lab Gymnasium and open a new facility to support the golf, track and field, and women's soccer programs. Other improvements are in the master plan as well and will benefit all 16 Catamount athletics teams.
McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture has experience on-campus in Cullowhee as the firm completed the renovation and design of the Brown Building, as well as served as the design team for the Noble Hall mixed-use residential building in the heart of the WCU campus. MPS was also the primary designer for fellow Southern Conference Wofford's Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium, both OrthoGeorgia Park at Claude Smith Field baseball facility and Five-Star football stadium and the field house at Mercer, and Furman's Pearce-Horton Football Complex.
McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture has eight offices located across the southeast including Asheville and Charlotte in North Carolina; Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Spartanburg in South Carolina; and offices in both Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia.
Catamount Athletics has begun soliciting leadership gifts as part of the initial stages of WCU's comprehensive fundraising campaign, which has a significant focus on improvements to athletics facilities. As a key priority within the comprehensive campaign goal, WCU aims to raise at least $30 million in philanthropic gifts to support upgrades to athletics facilities.
In addition, the university intends to fund an additional $30 million toward athletics facility improvements, financed by debt serviced from fees paid by WCU students. The WCU Student Government Association passed a resolution in 2021 supporting the use of increased student athletics fees for those improvements. Currently, no state-appropriated funds are allowed to be used to support intercollegiate athletics, including facilities, at any UNC institution.
For more information about how to support the Catamount athletics program, contact
Julie Miller, associate athletics director for development at (828) 227-3084. Keep track of everything related to Catamount Athletics through our social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@Catamounts).
