The New LAFC Training Facility

LAFC Sauna Area by Giroux Glass, Inc.

There’s been much buzz in Southern California lately over the construction of stadiums and sports facilities, including the brand new Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) training facility, built on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, and officially opened for use in April 2018.

According to the LAFC, the $30 million investment, in addition to a $1.6 million partnership with the university to be used in renovating existing facilities around campus and creating new master’s program in which students get hands-on experience with the Club, is already getting rave reviews from its new tenants.

“It’s incredible,” Tyler Miller (LAFC goalkeeper) said following training. “It’s definitely one of the nicest professional environments that I’ve been able to train in. It’s modern, state of the art, and it just meets all of our needs as a professional soccer player.”

LAFC Restroom by Giroux Glass, Inc.Asked how the training facility compares to his past clubs in Europe like Arsenal and Real Sociedad, Carlos Vela (first designated player in LAFC history) echoed the sentiments of his teammate: “It’s really nice. I think it’s really modern,” Vela said. “We have everything. Now we have no excuse to not play good.”

(Visit the LAFC website for a virtual tour of the project, or watch one below!)

Giroux Glass is a proud player on the team which built this state-of-the-art facility from the ground up. Complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and open floor plan, the 30,000 sq. foot LAFC training facility now houses coaches and technical staff offices, medical facilities, player dining, and a weight room, all under one roof.

LAFC Collage by Giroux Glass, Inc.

LAFC Gym by Giroux Glass, Inc.

Called onto the field (job site) by AECOM-HUNT, and following Gensler’s (architectural) game plan, Giroux Glass estimator Anna Ryor passed the ball on to me as I was tasked with project managing our glass and glazing scope.

In the span of about four months, our team installed exterior curtain wall and doors, interior glass partitions, sliding glass doors, and mirrors throughout the facility. We utilized 1-inch insulated units and laminated glass (fabricated by Glasswerks), a curtain wall 1600 system (metal systems manufactured by Kawneer), various coatings, black anodized finishes, and more. To install these systems, boom lifts, reach lifts, and scissor lifts were used to accommodate the height of the building.

We faced some challenges along the way, but there’s something unifying about overcoming challenges together. Scheduling and materials had a few hold-ups, but we were able to guarantee sizing in order to secure materials early and fabricate all glass and metals in advance. We worked closely as one team with AECOM-HUNT–one of the primary reasons the project was a success—to coordinate design details with Gensler, as well as with other trades, to ensure a smooth-running job site. Of course, the constant communication and coordination with our field crews and material suppliers were also key factors.

LAFC Entrance by Giroux Glass, Inc.A heartfelt thank-you to my teammates at Giroux Glass who were invaluable to me on this project: Michelle Fainberg (CAD manager); Randy Barquera (foreman) and our team of talented Union glaziers who were patient with my pushing them to finish on time and meet our schedule goals; Kelly Edwards (field superintendent) for ensuring the availability of our required manpower and advising on many technical issues; the “shop guys,” Scott Kenney, Ryan Cordova, and Eduardo Lopez, for their timely deliveries; and at lastly, Mark Barragan (field superintendent) for his fast precision in fabrication.

We at Giroux Glass couldn’t be happier to help deliver a product that even Bob Bradley (the LAFC’s first-ever head coach) is proud of. He told interviewers that the facility’s design is another testament to LAFC ownerships’ commitment to “doing things the right way.” Bradley said, “Whenever an organization does things the right way from the top, the facilities, the stadium, the kind of surface that you play on every day… All of those things are important. Because when you are looking around the world to attract players, they want to go into a situation where they can improve, where they can be a part of something that is special.”

We couldn’t agree with you more, Bob.

*This video is being shared for informational purposes. Giroux Glass has no affiliation with Fox News, or any other particular news channel.