Motivated by the potential of this project to impact the community, region, and state, MMA and Fishbeck embarked on a design process that was as inclusionary and collaborative as the SOMI client itself. The design team thoughtfully engaged with SOMI staff, athletes, families, board members, and supporting organizations to dream about the possibilities and uncover how the facility could help SOMI lean into their mission, meeting both current and future needs as they continue to grow and serve the west and greater Michigan community. 

The existing site offered both advantages and drawbacks. As an aging school property, many existing spaces met SOMI’s needs for sporting events and training rooms, but were dated, dark, inaccessible, and uninclusive, requiring creative thinking and flexibility from the design and construction team.

Inclusive and universal design prioritizes inclusion and accessibility, going beyond compliance to accommodate people of all abilities, fostering engagement and social inclusion. The design team fully embraces this approach by starting the design process with listening and seeking to understand, considering all types of users, even those who may have been overlooked, and then working to create environments that provide options for different abilities and welcoming, comfortable spaces for everyone, such as incorporating multiple types of restroom accommodations, flush / zero thresholds, large changing tables, thoughtful and clear wayfinding, voice operated controls, many levels of sensory input, abundant daylight, and more.

The Unified Sports and Inclusion Center includes athletic facilities, training rooms, healthcare services, a community-oriented cafe and collaboration center, office space, a state-of-the-art accessible teaching kitchen, exhibit space, expanded parking and site circulation, a new track, and upgraded athletic fields. As the largest facility of its kind, the center is a model for inclusivity and universal design standards, where visitors leave with a greater understanding of and appreciation for the disability community and the services available through the nonprofit organizations that also call this center home.

The center’s reach extends beyond Special Olympics. Within this collaborative environment, eleven additional non-profits have found a home, including Disability Advocates of Kent County, Thresholds, Be Nice, Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, and others. These disability-focused partners together under one roof raise their individual and collective visibility and reach, and their proximity allows them to partner on collaborative endeavors. The building also serves as a learning lab for global companies such as HOLOPLOT, MindSpring, and Steelcase to test their technology and products in an inclusive environment. As a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change, the center serves as an example for other states and organizations to transform an existing building into a world-class sports and wellness complex and collaboration center focused on inclusion and joy.