Air-supported structures are transforming campuses across North America, giving athletes safe, year-round training environments and schools versatile, cost-effective facilities. From boosting performance to enhancing student life, these innovative spaces are redefining what’s possible for colleges and universities.
On campuses throughout North America, air-supported structures are becoming a familiar sight, large, bright facilities that transform outdoor fields and courts into year-round spaces. Installed by The Farley Group, these innovative structures are reshaping how students and athletes train, compete, and experience campus life.
Why Top Programs Choose Air-Supported Structures
Across North America, leading athletic programs are making the shift. From Harvard and Princeton to Seneca College in Ontario, more and more institutions are turning to air-supported facilities to provide safe, reliable training environments. Even professional organizations, such as Toronto FC, have relied on an air-supported structure for over a decade to ensure year-round training.
What Exactly Is an Air-Supported Structure?
Unlike traditional buildings made of steel or concrete, air-supported structures rely on a durable fabric membrane held up entirely by carefully regulated air pressure, creating a stable, open space without the need for a rigid framework. A continuous ventilation system and specialized entry points maintain the environment inside.
From the outside, they’re hard to miss – large, white structures often featuring a college or university logo. Inside, the experience is impressive: clear-span space with no beams or columns, allowing for uninterrupted play on full-size fields and courts.
Air-supported structures can be permanent, operating year-round with heating and cooling systems, or they can be installed seasonally to extend outdoor sports into the colder months. For many universities and colleges, this means the best of both worlds, using a dome only when needed and then returning to open-air facilities in warmer seasons. Their use isn’t limited to athletics either; many institutions also host community events, trade shows, and even exams, providing much-needed large-scale indoor space during peak academic periods.
Oakland University
Oakland University
University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
Mentor College
Mentor College
Princeton University
Princeton University
Harvard University
Harvard University
Why They Work for Athletics
The key advantage is clear-span design. With no beams or columns, the entire footprint of the structure is usable playing surface. Historically, few post-secondary institutions could offer a full-size indoor facility of this scale—the costs of traditional construction were simply too high.
Air-supported structures change that. Colleges and universities can provide world-class training facilities at a fraction of the cost of a conventional building. That’s why institutions of every size – from smaller private schools like Thiel College to Ivy League universities – are investing in these solutions. Beyond affordability, schools also enjoy a high degree of customization: domes can be designed in various colors, include branded elements, and showcase college or university logos both inside and out, making them a true extension ofu campus identity.
Benefits for Athletes
1. Year-Round Training
Weather is no longer a limiting factor. With an air-supported structure, athletes can train throughout the winter without interruptions caused by snow, rain, or freezing temperatures. This continuity gives teams a competitive edge over programs limited to seasonal training.
2. Safer Environments
Cold weather and icy fields increase the risk of injuries. Air-supported structures eliminate those hazards by creating a safe, climate-controlled environment where athletes can focus on performance rather than conditions underfoot.
3. Enhanced Performance
Cold temperatures affect muscle function and performance, reducing strength, speed, and power. A controlled environment helps athletes train at their best year-round, leading to more consistent progress and fewer setbacks.
Benefits for Campuses
The value extends well beyond athletics. Air-supported structures also:
- Strengthen student recruitment by offering state-of-the-art facilities.
- Provide new revenue opportunities through community rentals and events.
- Enhance campus life with versatile spaces that support both athletic and non-athletic programming.