PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Brown University will name its soon-to-open indoor turf facility Penner Field House in recognition of a generous gift from the Penner Family Foundation, which is led by Brown parents Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner.
Set to open later this month, the 76,000-square-foot Penner Field House will replace the former Meister-Kavan Field at Brown’s Erickson Athletic Complex and provide year-round space for athletics practice, training and recreation. With a synthetic turf field and flexible configurations for a variety of sports, the facility will enable Brown’s varsity and club student-athletes to train through New England’s coldest — and warmest — months and support students seeking opportunities to stay active throughout the year.
Brown Un…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Brown University will name its soon-to-open indoor turf facility Penner Field House in recognition of a generous gift from the Penner Family Foundation, which is led by Brown parents Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner.
Set to open later this month, the 76,000-square-foot Penner Field House will replace the former Meister-Kavan Field at Brown’s Erickson Athletic Complex and provide year-round space for athletics practice, training and recreation. With a synthetic turf field and flexible configurations for a variety of sports, the facility will enable Brown’s varsity and club student-athletes to train through New England’s coldest — and warmest — months and support students seeking opportunities to stay active throughout the year.
Brown University Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun said the facility will play a central role in strengthening Brown’s Division of Athletics and Recreation, marking a significant milestone in the University’s efforts to enable student-athletes to compete at the highest levels and engage more campus community members in club sports, intramural activities and wellness initiatives.
The parents of a current Brown senior and two recent graduates, Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner said their support for the facility aligns with the values that have long guided their own philanthropy — and Brown’s mission.
“The Penner Field House will be truly transformative for our athletics and recreation community, from our varsity student-athletes to the students engaged with recreation every day at Brown,” Calhoun said. “This special facility will support the competitive goals of our varsity teams and also allow our club teams, intramural leagues and other recreational groups to expand the many opportunities offered. This profoundly generous investment by the Penner family will positively impact the health, well-being and engagement of a large swath of the Brown community, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
As the parents of a current Brown senior and two recent graduates, the Penners said their children’s experiences on campus deepened their appreciation for the University and reinforced their belief in the importance of creating spaces where students can grow, push themselves and form meaningful connections.
“Brown has been an important part of our family’s story, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to support a facility that strengthens student life,” Greg Penner said. “We hope that Penner Field House will be a place where students can challenge themselves, support one another and build connections they’ll carry with them long after their time on campus.”
The Penners said their support for the field house aligns not only with the values that have long guided their own philanthropy, but Brown’s mission as well.
“The field house will be a place for learning, teamwork and well-being — a true reflection of Brown’s spirit,” Carrie Walton Penner said. “It’s an honor to support a project that enhances student life and advances the University’s investment in community, wellness and opportunity.”
Brown President Christina H. Paxson noted that the Penners’ gift will benefit more than 6,000 Brown University students who participate in varsity, club and recreational sports and help ensure that the field house meets the needs of the campus community for generations to come.
“Penner Field House represents a major step forward in our vision to enhance the student experience and ensure that Brown remains a place where students can pursue their potential to the fullest, both on and off the field,” Paxson said. “We’re deeply grateful for this generous gift from the Penner family, which will provide our student-athletes and members of our community with a world-class venue for training and recreation.”
Expansion, upgrades fortify athletic excellence
Construction of the building, which is funded entirely by donor support, began in October 2024, and crews hoisted the structure’s final steel beam into position during a topping-off ceremony in March 2025. The Penner Field House will be home to multiple spaces for use by the varsity and recreational athletics community, including Sorensen-Mencoff Field, a 1.5-acre turf field made possible with the generosity of Brown alumni and parents Joan Wernig Sorensen (a Class of 1972 graduate) and E. Paul Sorensen (a Class of 1971 graduate) and Samuel M. Mencoff (a Class of 1978 graduate) and Ann S. Mencoff.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/phtPsgRpbZo
Topping-off ceremony
In March 2025, crews hoisted the final steel beam for Brown’s new Penner Field House: an all-season space for practice, training and recreation.
Sorensen-Mencoff Field is lined for football, lacrosse, soccer and rugby. Divider curtains will enable teams to split the field into halves or thirds, allowing for increased flexibility and accessibility. Within the facility, approximately 2,500 square feet will be reserved specifically for strength and conditioning work, including a dedicated space on the turf field.
Open year-round, the field house is expected to alleviate scheduling conflicts for teams seeking indoor training space and expand access to recreational programs to the broader Brown community. During the 2024-25 academic year, 94% of undergraduate students engaged in athletics and recreation activities. Calhoun said she hopes that number will rise as the indoor turf facility expands capacity to meet a growing demand for recreational programming and fitness options for students, faculty and staff eager to incorporate physical activity into their personal wellness plans.
In addition to the benefits for Brown community members, the facility will move activities previously held on Meister-Kavan Field to an enclosed building, mitigating noise impacts on local neighbors.
A legacy of supporting student success
Across their professional work and philanthropic commitments, including through the Penner Family Foundation, Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner have focused on strengthening communities and supporting programs that expand access to opportunity. Their long-standing belief in the connections between physical activity, belonging and overall health has been an important component of their work and philosophy.
“ We hope that Penner Field House will be a place where students can challenge themselves, support one another and build connections they’ll carry with them long after their time on campus. ”
Greg Penner is the CEO and owner of the Denver Broncos. He serves as chairman of the board of directors for Walmart, Inc., and is the founder and general partner at Madrone Capital Partners. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Corporation of Brown University. In his role with the Broncos, Penner oversees both football and business operations and serves on multiple National Football League committees, reflecting a broad leadership portfolio across sports, business and philanthropy. His background spans investment, international finance and strategic leadership roles at Walmart, following early career positions in venture capital and at Goldman Sachs.
Carrie Walton Penner is an education and youth mental-health advocate and owner of the Denver Broncos. She is deeply involved in franchise matters, including organizational culture initiatives and player wellness. She also serves on multiple NFL committees and chairs the Denver Broncos Foundation. Walton Penner is the founder of Fiore Ventures, where she invests in founder-led, early-stage companies, nonprofit organizations and policy initiatives focused on mental-health access. She also serves on the board of directors of the Walton Family Foundation and chairs its education committee, guiding efforts to expand educational opportunity and student success.
Sergio Gonzalez, senior vice president for advancement at Brown, said the donors’ commitment underscores the essential role philanthropy plays in ensuring that Brown’s physical spaces effectively meet the evolving needs of the campus community.
“We are deeply grateful for our donors’ investment in the Brown community and for the opportunities it will create for generations of students and athletes to come.”
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