The Bridge Sports Complex
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Young Family Athletic Center
Norman, Oklahoma
Castle Rock Sports Center
Castle Rock, Colorado
Greenville SportsPark Recreation Center
Greenville, Texas
Altru Sports Complex
Grand Forks, North Dakota
The Altru Sports Complex is a regional destination for athletics, uniting aquatics, indoor turf, pickleball, indoor courts, and Sports Performance Training in one facility. Designed for competition and community use, it fills critical gaps in Grand Forks’ youth recreation system while supporting sports tourism through strong public, private, and university partnerships.
LocationGrand Forks, North Dakota
ClientCity of Grand Forks
TypeRecreation
CategoryAquatics, Multigenerational, Planning + Studies, Tournament, Current
Square Footage297,000
Completion2027
Partners
Community Engagement
The vision for the Altru Sports Complex was shaped through an extensive engagement process grounded in BRS’s ACE (Activity, Capacity, and Experience) public engagement approach. Working closely with the Parks District, city leadership, user groups, and regional partners, the team aligned on a clear direction for a facility that supports both performance and community access.
Design Threads
This process led to three core Design Threads:
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Locality – Reflecting the character of the Red River Valley through warm materials, seasonal inspiration, and a strong sense of place.
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Activate – Creating a dynamic, high-energy environment with visual connections, movement through space, and activity-driven graphics.
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Visionary – Celebrating Grand Forks’ leadership in aerospace, agriculture, and technology through clean forms, modern materials, and forward-looking design.
Partnership
The Altru Sports Complex is the result of a strong and strategic partnership between public, private, and institutional stakeholders.
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City of Grand Forks led the initiative, recognizing the need for a regional sports facility and advancing the project through political leadership and community support.
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Grand Forks Parks District was a vital partner, leveraging their local staff, programming, and youth sports connections to develop a facility program and operational plan that aligned with the community's needs.
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Altru Health System contributed a $10 million donation, reinforcing the project’s connection to health, wellness, and regional competitiveness.
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University of North Dakota (UND) played a key role in shaping the aquatics program and will utilize the facility for training and competition, including the potential return of university swim programs.
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Private donors and industry partners, including a local plumbing company and UND’s aerospace program, contributed funding and innovation—most notably in the design of a first-of-its-kind deep-water diving well.
This collaborative model allowed the project to expand beyond a single-use facility into a multi-dimensional sports destination.
Early Concept
Graphics Concept
Sponsor Graphics
Monument Concept
Funding
Funding for the Altru Sports Complex reflects a layered and community-supported approach.
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A successful public vote in 2023 extended an existing local sales tax to support the project, demonstrating strong community backing.
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Private corporate contributions, including Altru’s $10 million investment and additional donor funding, strengthened the financial foundation.
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A strategic donor funding campaign led by the Park District further expanded funding opportunities through private individual donors.
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Ongoing updates to the pro forma and operations model (with support from BerryDunn and the Park District) have managed community expectations with long-term operational sustainability.
This combination of public investment, private partnership, and strategic planning allowed the project to move forward with momentum and confidence.
Phasing
The Altru Sports Complex is being delivered in a phased approach to balance immediate needs with future expansion.
Phase 1 establishes the core identity of the complex and includes:
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Indoor turf fieldhouse sized for a high school football field with multi-sport configurations
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8-lane 50-meter competition pool with spectator seating and diving
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25-yard warm-up pool for instruction, training and swim lessons
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A state-of-the-art neutral buoyancy deep diving well developed with UND’s aerospace program
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8 Tournament-level pickleball courts
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Elevated walking and sprint tracks
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Community and support spaces, along with on-site concessions
Phase 1 is currently under construction with completion anticipated in 2027.
Phase 2 expands the facility’s capabilities and includes:
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A multi-court gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, and wrestling tournaments
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A new sports performance training center
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Expanded spectator lounge, team and official meeting space, and concession spaces
With Phase 1 delivered under budget, significant funding is already positioned to advance Phase 2—ensuring the complex continues to evolve alongside the needs of the athletic community.
