Idaho Central Credit Union Arena

The Idaho Central Credit Union Arena at the University of Idaho is a model for the use of timber for long-span sports facilities in North America, and a catalyst for the University of Idaho to showcase the rich history of forest products in the state. Home to the University of Idaho men and women’s basketball teams and a gathering place for a variety of school and community events, the 4,000-seat Arena shows off mass timber’s long-span capabilities with a visually stunning structure. A Wood Innovations Grant from the USDA Forest Service allowed the project team to explore design options that may not have otherwise been possible. The resulting roof, curved to emulate the rolling hills of the nearby Palouse, was built using a large glulam portal frame and 140-foot-long glulam king-post trusses, engineered to meet the complex loading requirements of the long spans and double-curved roof shape. The Arena also includes a three-level structure housing locker rooms, coaches’ offices and alumni center, built using a glulam post-and-beam system with DLT panels. Entities from throughout Idaho came together in a unique collaboration for the project. Most of the wood fiber came from the University’s own forest, and the glulam was manufactured by Idaho firms, demonstrating the promising possibilities of Idaho’s timber industry. A key mission of the University is to celebrate the educational opportunities by utilizing the arena as a living, learning space for all. 

See the WoodWorks Technical Case Study on the Idaho Central Credit Union Arena. 


Watch a short one-minute video of this project, which was selected as a 2023 Wood Design Awards winner. View the full award gallery here.