Hertz Center

Tulane University unveiled the Hertz Center, the new state-of-the-art, 43,000 squarefoot basketball and volleyball practice facility, in a dedication ceremony in November 2011. The Hertz Center was officially opened in a ribbon cutting ceremony which included Tulane director of athletics Rick Dickson, Tulane president Scott Cowen and Atlanta businessman and the chair of the Tulane Board Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Hertz, who made the naming gift for the facility.

A facility that has changed the way Tulane student-athletes train, the Hertz Center includes two regulation basketball/volleyball courts, weight training, athletic training and hydrotherapy facilities, equipment room, conference rooms, coaches offices for all three programs, a video room and lounges for the men’s and women’s basketball and olleyball teams.

The Hertz Center is located on Ben Weiner Drive between the Wilson Center and the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine and will act as the training facility for the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs.

The main floor of the Hertz Center houses Goldring/Woldenberg Court and Cary Court. The courts reflect the generous donations of the Goldring Family Foundation, the Woldenberg Foundation and the late L. Wick Cary estate.

The gym features nearly 15,000 square-feet of court space with four main Spalding basketball goals and eight additional basketball goals. The two courts were installed by Connor Sports Floors and the Focus Floor that was laid down matches the floor in Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. Attached to the main practice area of the Hertz Center are the athletic training and strength and conditioning rooms. The open floor plan gives the student-athletes access to both rooms and almost 3,000 square-foot area that can be viewed from the gym through an all-glass front. The athletic training area houses one Hydroworx cold tub, two taping tables and four treatment stations. In the strength and conditioning area, treadmills, elliptical machines and an assortment of Power Lift weight training equipment line the floor. Offices were also installed for the staff members that will be working with the Green Wave programs housed in the Hertz Center.

Behind the main gym, each program has its own 1,200-square-foot locker room space that includes locker, lounge and bathroom amenities. Through the entrance, the players are greeted by the lounge area, which features three couches, a refrigerator, microwave, computer desks, and televisions. Walking into the locker room portion of the suite, 15 individual wooden lockers line the wall, with each including a secure entry system. Further inside is a lavatory that is equipped with all the necessary comforts, including highly-mounted shower heads and a laundry chute. Each program is represented with its own program highlight wall on the upper level

The colorful timelines are suspended by steel wires and line the left side of the second floor’s main corridor. The coaches offices look out towards a hi-tech timeline that is suspended by wire and sets up the history and future of each respective program.

Once on the second floor, three identical coaches’ suites are located along the right side of the Hertz Center. The suites feature five identical offices and are equipped with a television and white board, a reception area and supply closet. Across the hallway, a spacious 400 square-foot conference room is filled with ample seating, a television, projection screen and dry erase boards to use for individual film study. All of the offices overlook Ben Weiner Drive and the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

Also on the second floor, a 600 square-foot film room is accented with 32 leather chairs, a mounted high definition projector and a state-of-the-art lighting and audio/video system. The programs can also utilize a video room that includes a video breakdown station, mounted camera controls and a recording/duplicating center. The coaches’ locker rooms and break room are also located on the upper floor of the Hertz Center.

The building was designed by GouldEvans Associates, LC with Lee Ledbetter & Associates and construction was handled by the Brice Building company.

Brice was mobilized to begin construction for the Hertz Center on November 23, 2011 and the foundation for the building was laid on January 17, 2011.