SMRT Partners With Maine Celtics to Host Student Architecture Design Competition

PORTLAND, Maine – SMRT Architects and Engineers and the Maine Celtics, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Boston Celtics, are teaming up for the first ever student architecture design competition.

This challenge offers students an opportunity to learn the critical aspects of sports and arena design with one-on-one guidance from SMRT architects and engineers. Teams will be asked to reimagine a new fictional arena for the Maine Celtics and deliver their results at the end of the 2022-2023 basketball season. Teams will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the Portland Expo, the current Maine Celtics arena, and will meet with coaches and players to find out what is important to them as users of the facility.

“We cannot wait to see what the students create in this design competition,” said Nick Vaughn, Principal and Director of SMRT’s Education and Athletics practice. “We are proud to help provide an opportunity to connect these local students with the players, coaches and staff of the Maine Celtics while also providing a dynamic learning space for them to get inside the world of design and planning.”

A winning team will be announced at center court at a game in March.

“This is an exciting new venture for the Maine Celtics,” said Team President Dajuan Eubanks. “While there are obvious parallels between NBA basketball and STEM education, an architecture and engineering program is something unique for our team. We look forward to seeing the results.”

Schools and educators that are interested in learning more or participating in “SMaRTer Together” should contact Nick Russo with the Maine Celtics at nrusso@maineceltics.com.