For over a century, the stately colonnade of the Lapham Field House at the Smilow Field Center has greeted Yale student-athletes as they arrive to train and compete at the university’s storied venues along Derby and Central avenues. Originally built in 1924 with a gift from avid sportsman Henry G. Lapham BA 1897, the field house has served at least a dozen Yale teams over the decades, providing lockers, space for equipment, coaches’ offices, and workout and meeting rooms.

This fall, the university celebrated the completion of a major renovation project that coincided with Lapham’s centennial and has transformed it into the dedicated home of Yale’s football, track and field, and cross country teams. The building’s familiar brick façade now leads into a state-of-the-art facility custom-designed for these teams, marking a new chapter in Yale’s longstanding tradition of athletic excellence and elevating the student-athlete experience for the next century.

“The renovation of the Lapham Field House at the Smilow Field Center reflects Yale’s commitment to providing our student-athletes with the very best,” says Victoria M. “Vicky” Chun, the Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics. “First-class facilities are not just about bricks and mortar; they are about empowering our student-athletes to reach their full potential, both on and off the field. This achievement is a result of the incredible support from our donors and the unwavering commitment of the university administration, and for that, we are deeply grateful.”

A Win-Win Situation

Plans for the project took shape in 2021, shortly after Yale opened two facilities: the Carol McPhillips Roberts Field House and the Tsai Lacrosse Field House. These new buildings became the dedicated homes for several teams previously served by the Lapham Field House, including softball, field hockey, and men’s and women’s lacrosse and soccer. Their vacancies presented the opportunity to tailor spaces within Lapham for the remaining teams: football and men’s and women’s track and field and cross country.

Lapham lies steps away from Coxe Cage and directly across the street from the Cuyler Athletic Complex and the Dwyer Track, making it the ideal home for these teams in terms of geographical convenience. The renovation would also equip the building with new heating and cooling systems and upgrade the existing athletic medicine suite into a world-class facility complete with hydrotherapy rooms.

Team Effort

This facilities update is the second renovation in the building’s long history. The first was completed in 1993, thanks to a major gift from distinguished alum and philanthropist Joel Smilow ’54, who is remembered for his passionate support of Yale athletics. The university recognized Smilow’s contribution at the time by establishing the Smilow Field Center, which incorporates Lapham Field House, adjacent outdoor tennis courts and athletics fields, and the walkway between the Walter Camp Gate and the Yale Bowl.

Continued support from the Smilow Foundation helped to fund the new renovation, along with lead gifts from brothers Rob Michalik ’91 and Chris Michalik ’91, both of whom played football at Yale, and Kim Fulton ’91, who ran for the track and field and cross country teams and is married to Chris. The trio’s generosity and enthusiasm moved the project forward and played a pivotal role in inspiring a groundswell of support from alumni and members of the Yale community—many of them also former Yale athletes. Other top donors to the project include Alexander Cutler ’73 and Sarah Cutler; Glenn Greenberg ’68 and Linda Vester Greenberg; John Lykouretzos ’95 and Joella Lykouretzos; the Smilow Foundation; and Stephen Woodsum ’76 and Anne Lovett.

“My brother and I are honored to contribute to the renovation of an iconic building that has been an integral part of Yale’s athletics tradition and an important part of our own experience at Yale,” says Rob Michalik. “We wanted to honor Coach Cozza, a man who made a positive impact on the lives of so many Yale Football players during his thirty-seven years leading the program.” Chris Michalik agrees. “Playing football taught us so much about dedication and teamwork. It means a great deal to have a hand in supporting the future excellence of the program,” he says.

Fulton notes that she shares the same sentiment about her time competing for Yale’s track team. “It’s a pleasure to help transform the vision for Lapham into an amazing reality that, like the glorious Coxe Cage, will enhance what is already an exceptional student-athlete experience,” she says.

A Facility in Support of Excellence

At the start of the fall pre-season, the renovated field house opened its doors to excited student-athletes, coaches, and staff. Among its many highlights are separate entrances for the football and cross country and track and field teams that lead directly to interior spaces customized to their needs. Designated locker rooms are outfitted with mechanically ventilated lockers that have been designed to store sport-specific uniforms and equipment. Comfortable lounges offer space for studying and team bonding during downtime, while nutrition areas serve as venues for eating healthy post-practice meals.

Additional spaces on the first floor include the state-of-the-art athletic medicine suite with new hydrotherapy pools, cutting-edge rehab and medical equipment, and a physician’s office; a Yale-branded creative studio for athletics photography—a thoroughly modern recruiting resource; and a 110-person meeting room with new audio-visual equipment for reviewing game tape. Numerous smaller positional meeting rooms on the upper floors help to facilitate football players’ study of the game. The lobby, which doubles as a reception area, showcases Yale’s two Heisman Trophies and the Ivy League Championship cup, along with historic photos of the Yale Bowl and a mural highlighting the football program’s eighteen championship teams. Meanwhile, the track and field and cross country spaces pay homage to the history of Coxe Cage and the achievements of Yale Olympians from Paris in 1900 to Tokyo in 2023.

A Game-Changer for Recruiting

“The Lapham Field House at the Smilow Field Center represents Yale’s clear commitment
to providing our teams with the nation’s best training and competition facilities,” says Courtney Jaworski, the Mark T. Young ’68 Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. “The support of our alumni family has created a reimagined space equipped with the tools our student-athletes need to succeed in their pursuit of excellence.”

Jaworski, who joined the Yale community in the summer of 2024, says the renewed field house, along with Yale’s renowned track and field facilities, helps the university to attract talented coaches and athletes. “To have a true home for our team is fantastic, both for team culture and for the future of our program,” he says. “As we compete against other Ivy League schools and peers across the country when recruiting student-athletes, a top facility like Lapham is an amazing draw.”

Tony Reno, the Joel E. Smilow ’54 Head Coach of Football, notes that even during construction, the field house has benefitted Yale football’s recruiting efforts. “Developing leaders and providing an elite experience for our players on and off the field is what makes Yale Football unique, and the completion of this renovation project allows us to do so at the highest level,” he says. “We’ve got the greatest alumni in the world. Their willingness to step forward in their generosity, to give back, to create a world-class experience for our current players is second to none.