National Basketball Players Association

New York, NY
National Basketball Players Association Relocation

Mancini was tapped by the National Basketball Players Association (“NBPA”) to serve as the designer and architect for the relocation of its offices and the build-out of an adjoining training facility that will, as NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts put it, serve as a “home away from home” for current and former NBA players.

The NBPA wanted to relocate its offices somewhere centrally located within Manhattan, closer to the Midtown hotels players stay at while visiting from other cities. This required an extensive site selection process; over 150 sites throughout Midtown Manhattan were reviewed before the client selected 1133 Avenue of the Americas.

National Basketball Players Association Amenities

1133 was able to accommodate challenging program requirements that are critical to the organization’s mission. The NBPA was looking to house their administrative offices, player amenities, and a functional training facility for their athletes—all under one roof centrally located in midtown. Working with a team of consultants, the designers converted a column-free space with 19’ ceilings on the 5th floor to an acoustically-isolated regulation half-court basketball court. Arena-quality locker and shower facilities are adjacent to the court on the 5th, as well as a player amenity area.

A functional training facility capable of supporting cardio workouts and weight training, and featuring three hydrotherapy pools (including hot and cold tub and a treadmill submerged in water), overlooks the court from the 6th floor. In addition to the court, the 47,000-square-foot facility features space for players to have meetings with agents, and classrooms that will help train players during the off-season in topics ranging from finance to franchise management. A small broadcast studio for promo and music recording purposes is open to the union’s entire membership.