The building features a modern aesthetic that blends seamlessly with the university’s architectural style while delivering superior functionality for athletes and fans alike. The building needed to support a range of events, provide outstanding spectator views, and meet precise structural criteria, including point loads, ventilation, and environmental factors like wind and snow loads. Texas A&M’s indoor track facility is one of just three in the U.S. purpose-built to host the NCAA National Indoor Track and Field Championships. Furthermore, it is one of only two SEC programs capable of hosting the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Legacy Building Solutions provided a custom tension fabric structure that met all these needs and more. The structure features a robust steel I-beam frame cladded with gray 28-ounce ExxoTec™ Elite fabric, giving the building durability and strength. To match the surrounding campus architecture, the facility was designed with a 20-foot-high brick façade, making it indistinguishable from traditional buildings.
KEY FEATURES:
Steel Frame & Fabric: The frame supports fire suppression systems, HVAC, lighting, banners, and more, ensuring complete functionality. The exterior is lined with gray ExxoTec™ Elite fabric, while the interior uses white and maroon ExxoTec™ Pro fabric for a sleek, modern look.
Ventilation & Doors: To maintain airflow, 18-inch black mesh soffit overhangs and ARV roof vents were installed, along with a custom gutter system and multiple overhead and walk doors for easy access and movement.
Spectator Seating & Visibility: The facility features bleacher seating that spans nearly 360 degrees around the 200-meter track, accommodating around 4,000 spectators. An elevated concourse allows fans to navigate easily and provides excellent visibility of the track.
Craig Valka, executive associate athletics director – Facilities and Capital Projects for Texas A&M, praises Legacy’s team for their seamless collaboration and dedication throughout the project. “We had great communication with Legacy’s design team to calculate point loads for lights, speakers, HVAC, banners, and other items. The building was installed very efficiently. Legacy’s crew amazed me every day.”
Valka also highlights the facility’s impact during the spring 2024 indoor track season: “Everybody loves it. The acoustics are great. Lighting is perfect. It’s got terrific openness and feel. It’s a wonderful environment from a fan perspective.”
Valka noted several advantages of choosing Legacy’s fabric structures over traditional options:
Aesthetic Appeal: The brick façade helps the facility blend with surrounding buildings, giving the appearance of a traditional structure while offering the flexibility and benefits of a fabric building. Additionally, Legacy’s interior liner system enhances the space with clean, bright aesthetic and delivers superior acoustic performance.
Structural Integrity: Legacy’s design and engineering ensured the facility could handle all essential building loads while maintaining a sleek, modern look.
Versatility: The fabric structure offered high customizability, from color schemes that pleased campus architects to unique design features that enhanced both function and aesthetics.
Sustainability & Energy Conservation: The facility features R-30 roof and wall insulation, working in tandem with Legacy’s air-tight interior vapor barrier liner system. This combination maximizes thermal efficiency by reducing heat loss and air infiltration, helping maintain consistent indoor temperatures.
“Legacy’s buildings are not just tents or bubbles. They’re true fabric structures that are customizable to meet campus needs while maintaining the durability and functionality required for high-performance athletics,” notes Valka.
The R.A. “Murray” Fasken ’38 Indoor Track & Field facility demonstrates the versatility and strength of Legacy Building Solutions’ tension fabric structures. By combining innovative design, structural integrity, and a seamless blend with campus architecture, Texas A&M now boasts a world-class athletic facility that will serve its students and fans for years to come.
