The Oregon Ducks’ indoor training facility is moving from concept to something fans can actually see take shape.
New footage shared by Oregon Ducks content creator Rian Winter, also known as @SportsChat503, shows major progress on the 170,000 square foot addition to the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex. Compared with images from the start of construction last year, the build now appears to have most of its internal skeleton in place, along with part of the curved timber roof.
That roof is one of the project’s defining features. It leans hard into the Ducks’ Pacific Northwestern identity, with timber planks forming a giant Oregon “O” logo.
In the university’s initial press release on the project, it said: "Current plans call for an exterior shell made from Northwest timber, in a curved form inspired by the Oregon “O.” The center of the roof would be paneled with tinted polymer panels supported by a steel cable system, which allows natural light to reach the field without glare while insulating against heat," the University shared in their initial press release about the construction.
The project, known as “2. MO,” is being built by Hoffman Construction and designed by Olson Kundig.
At 100 feet tall, it is set to be the largest indoor college football facility ever constructed, and the details inside are aimed squarely at the players who will use it. The plan includes a roof-top players lounge, a classroom with direct access from the field, temperature control, a new weight room and added nutrition elements.
The branding around the building has stayed just as tied to Oregon’s regional identity as the architecture itself. A May construction video leaned into the area’s natural look and feel, using old footage that highlighted the region’s beauty. The teaser ended with a topography map of Oregon, Douglas Fir trees similar to those on Matthew Knight Arena’s court, the Oregon and Nike logos and the words “Forged Out West.”
Winter’s latest video also showed that most of the tarps covering the fencing around the site have come down, giving a clearer look at the work in progress. It’s not clear whether that change is temporary.
The surrounding area has changed too. Leo Harris Parkways has already been rerouted, and additional parking has been added in front of Autzen Stadium where a gravel parking area once sat, with access to the surrounding woods and the adjacent Willamette River.
According to the Southwest Oregon Architect Blogspot, "Additionally, the broader project includes improved ADA access in Alton Baker Park, expanded parking, and enhancements to fish habitat and water quality in the nearby waterway. These changes reflect a civic dimension to the development, even if the primary driver is athletic performance."
Solar panels are also part of the design, adding another sustainability element to the timber “O” roof as the massive project continues to rise.
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