Bay FC Training Facility sense-of-home design

Image: Bay FC and Olson Kundig

The Bay FC, the professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area (California, US) in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), announced recently Olson Kundig – an award-winning architectural and interior design firm – as the Architect of Record for the Bay FC Training Facility located on Treasure Island (a man-made island in San Francisco Bay and a neighborhood in the City and County of San Francisco), the center of the Bay.

The Bay FC Training Facility is expected to open in advance of the 2027 NWSL season and is a home away from home going by the design of the facility.

‘bayfc.com’ stated that the world-class training facility offers iconic 360-degree views – from San Francisco’s (US) Financial District to the Golden Gate Bridge, the North Bay, the Bay Bridge, and the East Bay.

The Bay Football Club is an American professional soccer team based in the San Francisco Bay Area that competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The team began play in the NWSL as an expansion team in the 2024 season. Their home stadium is the PayPal Park in San Jose, California (US), a soccer-specific stadium with 18,000 seats. It is the 14th team to join the NWSL and was established in April 2023.

Image: Bay FC and Olson Kundig

The 18,000-capacity PayPal Park (formerly the Earthquakes Stadium and the Avaya Stadium) is a soccer-specific stadium in San Jose, California (US). It is the home stadium of the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer (MLS) and Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The stadium is located on the Airport West site next to the San Jose International Airport.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is a women’s professional soccer league at the highest level of the United States soccer league system. The league comprises 14 teams (16 in 2026). It is owned by the teams and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation. The NWSL is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

Chicago (US)-based the United States Soccer Federation, commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, is a 501 nonprofit organization and the official governing body of soccer in the United States.

Now in its sixth decade of practice, Seattle (US)-based Olson Kundig is a collaborative design practice whose work includes private and multifamily residential, commercial and mixed-use design (including wineries and sports facilities), cultural and museum projects, exhibition design, hospitality projects, places of worship, interior design, product design, and landscape design. With deep roots in the Pacific Northwest (an area in the Northwest corner of the United States and Canada) the firm and its team of over 350 work with clients around the world.

The Architect of Record (AOR) is a licensed architect officially responsible for preparing the construction documents, ensuring compliance with the building codes and overseeing the design and construction of a project with their name appearing on the building permit.

Image: Bay FC and Olson Kundig

The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a region of California (US) surrounding and including the San Francisco Bay and anchored by the Cities of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.

‘bayfc.com’ further stated that the Bay FC’s new home is designed to empower the athletes, the support staff and create opportunities for the community and the youth connections marking the next step in the team becoming a global sports franchise.

Observed Brady Stewart, Bay FC head honcho, “In order to be a global sports franchise the team needs its own home and dedicated facility. Tom Kundig and the Olson Kundig team understand our priority of player-centricity and also designed an inspirational and stunning space which reflects a sense of home for our players and the staff. The Olson Kundig are true innovators and are helping us future-proof the facility and create something uniquely designed for our athletes that will nurture the whole person and unlock maximum potential. The facility will have state-of-the-art training and recovery amenities combined with the resources designed to support our athletes off the pitch that will allow us to build a unique culture and high-performing team.”

Led by Olson Kundig Design Principals Tom Kundig, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and Steven Rainville, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP), the Bay FC Training Facility combines Sports Science with a warm, residential sensibility to set new standards in innovation, peak performance and supporting the total health of the athletes. The architecture incorporates human-scaled proportions, natural materials and central courtyards to create a bright, well-ventilated environment that enhances performance and fosters a sense of home. The locally sourced materials and the immersive environmental graphics reinforce this notion of home while reflecting Bay FC’s identity.

Shared Tom Kundig, “The design of the Bay FC Training Facility reflects California’s climate and cultural history grounding it as both a symbolic and literal center of the Bay. The players commit to training together, building relationships and working as a team every day. The design acknowledges the complexity of that commitment –to the sport, the team and the place that supports them both.”

The facility features clear circulation pathways and a balance of private and communal spaces – from three training fields to the dedicated recovery areas – ensuring seamless transitions between training, preparation and downtime for both the athletes and the staff. Beyond the pitch the facility will invest in top-of-the-line resources to support the athletes’ long-term success including career development, educational resources and business training.

Embracing its position within San Francisco, the Bay FC Training Facility will integrate seamlessly into Treasure Island’s sports and recreational landscape. In collaboration with the City of San Francisco and the Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA) the training center’s design will complement the existing and the planned amenities while fostering meaningful public engagement.

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