Athletic programs do more than build strong bodies — they shape confident, resilient individuals. School districts continue to invest in new athletic facilities, and it’s critical to consider how the built environment can support not just physical performance, but the mental health and emotional well-being of student-athletes.

WD believes athletic design should take a holistic approach. Drawing from our extensive work in healthcare and behavioral health, we know how environments can influence recovery, focus, social connection, and long-term wellness. When these insights are applied to K-12 athletic complexes, the result is a facility that empowers students to thrive — on and off the field.

The Mental Game: Why Design Matters

Athletes today are facing more pressure than ever. From academic expectations and competitive demands to the social dynamics of high school life, their mental wellness is a crucial factor in overall performance.

“Students should feel that their training environments are as supportive as they are challenging,” says Ken Ong, Director of Architectural Design at Westgroup Designs. “The spaces we create are not just for games and workouts — they’re places where young athletes reset, connect, and build confidence.”

Thoughtful programming and planning allow for spaces that encourage rest, mentorship, nourishment, and connection — all of which are foundational to mental health.

Design Strategies That Foster Wellbeing

1. Social spaces that build community
Athletics is often where lifelong friendships are formed. We prioritize spaces like team lounges, film rooms, and multi-use game rooms that foster camaraderie and inclusivity — not just for varsity starters, but for all students. In our upcoming gymnasium for Los Alamitos High School, the design features four team rooms and a film room — intentionally placed to encourage shared time before and after training sessions.

2. Spaces for recovery and rest
Just as athletes need to push their limits, they also need space to rest and recharge. Inspired by the calming, restorative environments we’ve created in behavioral health facilities, our athletic designs incorporate quieter zones and designated areas for reflection, stretching, or decompression. In Los Alamitos' gym, this includes dual outdoor plyometric spaces that serve as transitional zones between high-energy activity and restorative movement.

3. Nutrition-forward design
Our athletic spaces often feature concessions or nutrition stations that encourage healthy habits. And, when possible, we design adjacent spaces that accommodate chef demonstrations or educational nutrition programming — an approach we’ve borrowed from wellness facilities and brought into the student-athlete environment.

4. Visibility and mentorship
Where possible, we explore design opportunities that create visibility between youth programs, student-athletes, and coaching staff — reinforcing a shared culture of growth. Overlapping team rooms, transparent corridors, and shared training zones foster positive interaction and team spirit.

Turning Vision into Reality

Our work with school districts across California reflects this belief in holistic athletic design:

• Los Alamitos Unified School District – New Gymnasium
  Currently in construction, a 34,000-sf, state-of-the-art, three-court facility with a 2,000-seat retractable bleacher system, outdoor training zones, team rooms, and film space is set to be completed in the Summer of 2025.
• Fillmore High School – Varsity Baseball Field
  This recently completed new athletic complex was designed to strengthen both performance and school pride. While initial bids exceeded the District’s budget, we remain committed to delivering a top-quality facility through a rebid process — proving that student wellbeing doesn’t have to come at the expense of budgetary goals.
• Trabuco Hills High School – Stadium & Track Upgrades
  Working with Saddleback Valley USD, we revitalized aging facilities with a new track system, synthetic turf, accessibility upgrades, and improved spectator experiences — because student-athletes deserve environments that meet their excellence.

Supporting the Whole Athlete Mental health is not a standalone conversation. It’s a layer woven into every decision — from daylighting and acoustics to circulation and the location of gathering spaces. By incorporating lessons learned from decades in healthcare and behavioral design, we’re elevating the standards of K-12 athletic environments.

Spring Training is upon us, and the Fillmore High School Varsity Baseball Field is ready for future champions to hit it out of the park!

Our team scored a home run with the recently completed varsity-level facility, featuring dugouts, bullpens, bleachers, and everything needed to train the next generation of athletes. While the Fillmore Varsity Baseball Field is game-ready, our work continues on the Fillmore High School Athletic Complex—bringing a 3-court gym, locker rooms, wrestling room, and training spaces to life.

We're proud to deliver projects that shape the future of sports and empower student-athletes to achieve their best. Play ball!

Branding is more than just a logo or tagline—it’s about creating a unique and memorable identity that resonates with customers and employees alike. At Westgroup Designs (WD), we believe that a brand’s physical environment should be an extension of its story, creating spaces that foster connection, pride, and purpose.

Our approach goes beyond aesthetics. By seamlessly integrating your brand into the built environment, we craft immersive experiences that reflect your values and enhance user engagement. Through services such as signage and wayfinding, environmental graphics, and art selection, WD helps transform spaces into powerful expressions of your identity, reinforcing organizational goals and aligning every detail with your mission.

Bringing Brands to Life in Physical Spaces

Branding is essential in shaping how people experience an environment, no matter the sector. For 24 Carrots, a premier catering and events company, WD developed an environmental graphics package that reflected their dedication to extraordinary events and personalized service. By weaving their brand values into the design of their corporate headquarters and production facility, we created a welcoming, inspiring space that showcases their commitment to excellence.

For larger-scale projects, like Panasonic Avionics’ global headquarters, WD’s expertise extended to workplace strategy, interior design, and environmental graphics. Across an 18-acre campus, we designed seven interconnected hubs that foster collaboration, relaxation, and engagement. Every element—from signage to interactive spaces—was designed to deliver a cohesive, impactful brand experience, ensuring the Panasonic identity is felt in every corner.

At Marshall B. Ketchum University’s Ketchum Health facility, branding was integrated to improve both functionality and user experience. We designed intuitive wayfinding systems and environmental graphics, using color-coded navigation and beacon lighting to assist patients with low visual acuity. These thoughtful design solutions not only enhanced accessibility but also reinforced the university’s identity, demonstrating how branding can serve both form and function in healthcare spaces.

Designing Spaces That Align with Your Mission

At WD, we specialize in creating environments that are a seamless extension of your brand’s mission and values. WD leverages design to achieve impactful results to drive our client’s mission, vision, and strengthen your organization’s goals.

In partnership with Neff Construction, Inc., Westgroup Designs proudly hosted a successful fundraiser on October 3rd, raising over $50,000 for Prop-2 to benefit California School Districts. We are deeply grateful to our generous sponsors and esteemed guest speakers from Anaheim Union HSD, Long Beach USD, Santa Ana USD, and Moreno Valley USD. Together, we are committed to enhancing educational environments and shaping the future of learning.

Thank you all for your tremendous support!

WD is a 2024 Platinum Bond Contributor.

This past weekend, members of our team participated in the Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk, joining thousands in support of a world without breast cancer. We are especially proud of one of our designers, Izzy Guevara, CID, who raised over $450. As she shared, “I decided to participate in this year’s More Than Pink Walk to honor loved ones, especially my abuelita, and everyone impacted by breast cancer. Through my fundraising efforts, I aim to raise awareness and help us get closer to finding a cure.”

We are grateful to be part of this meaningful event and to contribute to an important cause.

Westgroup Designs is honored to be recognized by the Orange County Business Journal as a 2023 Companies That Care Honoree for going above and beyond for the OC community through philanthropic efforts and accomplishments.
We believe in embracing a work culture that values giving back. Every day, our staff strives to be an integral part of the world in which we live and work by volunteering, sponsoring, supporting and partnering with organizations in the region to help those in need including Veterans, children and families in crisis, animal shelters, public health, and more.
Westgroup Designs was also honored earlier this year by National Philanthropy Day Orange County.