Preparation:
Duquesne University is a private Catholic university located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. Founded in 1878, it currently hosts over 6,000 undergraduate students.
Thanks to the meticulous planning of DRS Architects, the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse was reconfigured to consolidate the Duquesne Dukes’ home basketball court, administrative functions, and athletic training into one multi-purpose facility.
In 2020, Abacus Sports Installations was selected to modernize the weight room at the fieldhouse. The updated space required a durable and resilient floor capable of handling the demands of all 19 athletic teams on campus.
Abacus installed brand new Regupol AktivPro rubber flooring and indoor training turf, while Sorinex provided fresh new equipment for the facility.
Installation:
Duquesne specified that their iconic “D” logo in blue be prominently displayed at the center of each inlaid platform. The center seamlessly connects with the rest of the floor, creating a clean and consistent appearance.
Additionally, the weight room features a turf lane in blue, reflecting school branding. This lane, designed for agility exercises, includes hashmarks and lines resembling a football field, and proudly displays the “D” logo at its center along with the “DUKES” wordmark logo in red at each end.
Since upgrading to the new, modern weight room, Duquesne University has seen notable athletic success.
In March 2024, the 11th-seeded basketball team won their first NCAA tournament game since 1969 with a major upset victory over BYU.
