Teaching Through Technology: Sustainability Education in Sports Venues
- Rebecca Rice
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
Teaching Through Technology: Sustainability Education in Sports Venues
Sustainability Meets Sports
The Sonnentag Event Center serves as a hub for athletic events and campus gatherings, making it an ideal location to showcase sustainable building practices to diverse audiences. Permanently installed in the lobby, the display transforms complex building performance data into an interactive educational experience that engages athletes, students, spectators, and visitors alike.
Guests can explore a 3D model of the building, dive into real-time data from its submetering system, and discover how geothermal heating, solar energy, and advanced automation work together to move the Sonnentag Complex toward zero net energy goals—making it one of the most energy-efficient athletic facilities in the region.
Our Role: Educational Content Strategy
Working alongside IMEG, Seven Mile Media, Backpack, Ayres Associates, and Stok, GCG developed the educational content strategy that:
Makes geothermal, solar, and building automation systems understandable for diverse audiences—from student-athletes to campus visitors
Supports UWEC's academic curriculum across multiple disciplines
Tells the building's sustainability story in real-time, showcasing progress toward net zero goals
Contributed to the project's LEED Gold certification
Athletic Facilities as Education Platforms
This project demonstrates that sports venues and event centers are uniquely positioned for sustainability education. High foot traffic, diverse audiences, and community visibility make athletic facilities ideal settings for this kind of creative, integrative approach—meeting people where they are, using innovative technology to spark curiosity, and embedding learning into the built environment itself.
When we design buildings to teach, we create ripple effects far beyond energy savings. The Sonnentag Display shows what's possible when education is woven into athletic and event facilities, inspiring the next generation while proving that high-performance sports venues can lead the way in sustainability.
Project Collaborators: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire • Seven Mile Media • Backpack • Ayres Associates, Inc. • Stok • IMEG
Interested in incorporating educational strategies into your athletic facility or event venue?
Contact us to learn more at Sara@GreenwoodCG.com or Lauren@GreenwoodCG.com.
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