As the University of Missouri (MU) football team put increasingly more focus and energy into contending at a national level, it became evident that the team would need a bigger practice space. For roughly 15 years, the Tigers had practiced at Devine Pavilion, a 70-yard field. 

This all changed MU when hired St. Louis-based architect HOK and its Kansas City-based sports division, HOK-Sport, to lead planning and design for the new 86,400-square-foot Stephens Indoor Practice Facility.

Speed of build during the construction process was important to reach MU’s target open date for the 2023 season.

Because of this, insulated metal panels (IMPs) were used for the building envelope. Requiring only one installer, Missouri Builders Service, Inc., IMPs create a weathertight building envelope in reduced time, fast-tracking construction to help prevent construction delays. 

Over 35,000 square feet of Kingspan’s Designwall 2000 panels were used in construction. The Designwall 2000 joint provides maximum thermal efficiency while creating a double barrier against air and water penetration. This thermal efficiency can help reduce heating and cooling costs in the large facility and help to regulate indoor temperatures during harsh winter months.

Designwall 2000 panels provide architects with enhanced design flexibility for large-scale projects. Vertical Designwall 2000 panels in a custom gray color were used to complement MU’s visual identity and style.

The new $33 million practice facility features a full 100-yard football field with additional run-off distances beyond the end zones and along the sidelines for athlete safety. Additionally, it includes an upper mezzanine with a viewing lobby and gameday facilities like expanded restrooms and VIP premium indoor tailgating opportunities.

"This is an opportunity for us to continue to recruit at a high level," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Once players get here, they're going to continue to need to develop, and utilizing this indoor is going to be so important for us."

Kingspan IMPs have been used for many sports facilities around the globe, including the Daytona International Speedway, the Jones-Hill House at the University of Maryland, DRV PNK Stadium in Miami, Florida, Northern Arizona University’s Student-Athlete Performance Center in Arizona, and more.