Position Paper v.1.1

Architecture has the ability to aid the advancement of rugby in the United States while benefiting the local Pittsburgh community.

Ever since a national collegiate rugby tournament was televised on major networks this past summer, rugby as a sport has continued to grow at a remarkable scale in the United States.  The Rugby World Cup in the summer of 2011 will be the most televised rugby event in the United States to date, and rugby will continue to hold its place as one of the fastest growing sports amongst young people today.  There are less than a handful of regulation qualified facilities in the country.  With this growing interest and influence among a young audience, an epicenter can be established within Pittsburgh not only for the growth of rugby, but also for a growing responsibility to strive for common good within the local community.

By looking at the most prominent example set in Glendale, Colorado, the underlying factors which have made the building and the local community such a success can be determined (http://www.glendale.co.us/).  This city center has not only massively advanced the growth of rugby nation-wide, but it has boosted the local community commerce immensely.  Glendale is a one by one square mile city within Denver that has now become the home for everything that is United States Rugby, nicknamed "Rugbytown, USA".  Players and fans travel from around the world to watch rugby at this facility.  This in turn boosts local hotel industry, restaurants, and other commercial entities within this small city.  Not only does this building serve as a rugby epicenter, but the city center, fire department, police, and other community services are based in this building and park.  Thus, this facility can serve as a major community center and influence the inhabitants of the local area outside the realm of simply rugby.

The goal would be to form a standard for the continued growth of the sport through the establishment of a conveniently located community complex withing Pittsburgh.  This building would serve not only support the cause of USA Rugby, but also drive and encourage community betterment and welfare through engaging youth programs and facilities.