Lanman Center History

Lanman Center

April 1999, the University officially opened the doors of the William K. Lanman, Jr. Center, a new brick and glass addition on the Lake Place side of Payne Whitney Gymnasium. Designed by Ellerbe Becket Architects in collaboration with Cesar Pelli & Associates, the center adds 57,000 square feet to Yale’s premier athletic facility and marks the completion of Phase I of the Payne Whitney Gymnasium Project. The multipurpose complex houses four regulation basketball and volleyball courts, eight mini courts for basketball and 20 basketball stations, six badminton courts, and a one-eighth-mile, indoor running track.

On April 22, 1999, Yale President Richard Levin and Director of Athletics, Tom Beckett honored leading donors at a dedication of the new wing. The addition was named for Colonel William K. Lanman, Jr. ‘28,USMC RET., a longtime benefactor of the university whose gifts helped to fund the construction project. Also recognized at the dedication were Joshua Bekenstein ‘80 and his wife Anita Beckenstein, honored for their contribution for the basketball and volleyball courts; and Glenn H. Greenberg ‘68 and Stephen D. Greenberg ‘70, whose gifts name the Greenberg Brothers Track.

The facility is available to the Yale community for special events and can seat up to 4,000 people.