The words college football immediately bring to mind stadiums, excitement, fans and probably some tailgating. However, in order to get players prepared to hit the field for the big game, coaches and teams know that it’s just as important to have a place for the players to bond and relax off the field as well.
When the Virginia Tech Football and Athletics Media team wanted to renovate their 7,000 sq. ft. players’ lounge, they turned to longtime partner, Diversified, to deliver a space that would offer student athletes a place to relax and bond with their fellow teammates. Their goal was to provide the atmosphere of a modern entertainment complex with a unique team-centric design that would reinforce the team identity. From gaming systems and a theater to arcade games and pool tables, the finished space offers a sanctuary for players to blow off steam and enjoy team fellowship. The space even features two new LG DVLED all-in-ones used for post-game shows and other presentations. With so many displays throughout the lounge, acoustics were designed and deployed to perfection to ensure that the viewer only heard the audio relative to their specific display and content.
However, the new Sanghani Player Lounge is not only designed with current players in mind. New recruits and their families also frequent the space during campus visits, getting a behind the scenes look at the student athlete environment. In addition to the entertainment-focused lounge area, the renovation also expanded the office areas for Tech’s player personnel and recruiting staff. These areas now include a collaborative conference space within the recruiting office, enabling a more functional virtual recruiting experience.
"The identity of Virginia Tech Football has been built around a blue-collar work ethic and a close-knit family environment," said Mehul Sanghani, Virginia Tech alum and longtime donor. "We hope that this investment in the player's lounge and our recruiting infrastructure creates an environment for our former players to come back and reinforce that identity, our current players to build the bonds that make that family environment tangible and attract future elite Hokies that want to be a part of continuing that legacy."
