Populous is designing NBA performance centers in Cleveland and Charlotte

Next in the race for NBA performance centers are the Cleveland Cavilers and Charlotte Hornets, whose projects are being driven by Populous to create all-new training facilities for the NBA team.

Cleveland broke ground on plans for a 210,000-square-foot center this fall, and Charlotte plans to break ground on its 160,000-square-foot center early next year. This all follows the Houston Rockets opening a brand new training facility ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.

“Thoughtful and functional design is essential for both player development and recovery, whether for seasoned veterans or the newest newcomers,” says David Hodge, Director of Populous. This design performs a special function in the design of centers for NBA players and staff. Depending on your location, it can also contain a variety of different features.

In Cleveland, the venue – officially called the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center – is part of a $3.5 billion redevelopment of the Cuyahoga Riverfront in downtown Cleveland and will become one of the largest training and performance centers in the world, according to the team become world. The groundbreaking included the announcement of a 25-year extension of a partnership between the team and the Cleveland Clinic that began in 1993. In addition to the NBA-specific facility, the Cleveland Clinic will also include a center for comprehensive care for the public.

The new Peak Performance Center is equipped with the latest training equipment, biomechanical testing systems, virtual reality and simulation technology for skills development, and wearable sensors for real-time performance monitoring.

Located on the waterfront next to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the new center will feature two large practice fields as well as plenty of space for player training, health and nutrition.

“We have established a championship-caliber culture in Cleveland, and this is another example of the commitment and overall investment we have made in the long-term health and well-being of our players and the organization,” said Cavaliers President Koby Altman Basketball operations.

The Cavaliers expect to move into the new facility in 2027, around the same time the Hornets will move into their new Charlotte Hornets Performance Center on a site adjacent to the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

“The team’s presence in Uptown Charlotte will serve as a beacon of player performance and attract the league’s best athletes,” said Jonathan Mallie, senior director at Populous.

The more than 100,000 square feet of training, exercise and recreation space will be complemented by 35,000 square feet of administrative offices and a 25,000 square foot orthopedic recovery center, all designed to be a new “world-class training facility,” says Hodge [that] will usher in a new era for the team and its owners.”

The site will also feature ground-level retail space and a public plaza at the corner of Caldwell and Fifth Streets.

Hornets Sports & Entertainment co-chairmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin wrote in a statement that the performance center is the next step toward the vision of building a premier franchise in the NBA and operating world-class facilities while managing all aspects of the NBA Improve player performance, training and health.

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