UPMC Sports Performance Complex The UPMC Sports Performance Complex is a multipurpose , multisport training , sports science , and sports medical complex of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center . The complex is located along the shore of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania and is unique in that it is the only facility in the United States housing the practice and training facilities for both a collegiate NCAA football team and a professional National Football League team , the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers respectively . It is also unique in that it combines these training facilities in one location with an academically based sports science and medicine program . The complex consists of four centers which include the Center for Sports Medicine , Sports Training Center , Indoor Training Center , and the Fitness and Conditioning Center located in three buildings along with four outdoor practice fields all situated on of land . The UPMC Center for Sports Medicine located in the complex is an international destination for amateur and professional athletes alike for its training , medical , and rehabilitation studies and services . Construction . The UPMC Sport Performance Complex was designed by the architectural firm L . D . Astorino Associates , Ltd . Development was managed by Oxford Development Company and construction of the complex by Mascaro Construction was initiated in June 1999 and completed on September 5 , 2000 although the Panthers and Steelers moved into their respective portions of the facility in August . The complex was completed at a cost reported from $ 30 to $ 80 million and , as part of Pittsburgh ’ s urban river - front revitalization effort , is located on the former site of the Jones & Laughlin , and later LTV , steel mill in the SouthSide Works . The MRI room had to be encased in five layers of steel plate , plus a sixth layer of copper , in order to shield the MRI machines from the nearby CSX railroad tracks . Fill was also brought in to raise the level of the land where the practice fields are by nine feet in order to keep them out of the flood plain . The Center for Sports Medicine . The UPMC Center for Sports Medicine , part of UPMC system flagship UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside , is one of the leading sports medicine centers in the United States and is home for the University of Pittsburgh ' s and UPMC ' s Sports Medicine program whose medical faculty is ranked 9th among the top orthopaedic programs in the nation by U . S . News & World Report . The Center is overseen by renowned orthopedic surgeon Freddie Fu , which has led to it often being referred to as " Freddie ' s building " . In the Center for Sports Medicine building , both the Panthers and Steelers have on - site access to advanced comprehensive sports medicine care provided a team of sports medicine physicians , orthopaedic surgeons , athletic trainer s and physical therapist s all who specialize in all types of specific sport - related injuries . The full - time sports medicine team also includes sub - specialists in , sport psychology , sports nutrition , sports massage therapy , sports concussion and sports performance enhancement . The Center also conducts major injury prevention studies involving , for example , female knee ligament , shoulders , golf and cycling . It also serves as a research center for such areas as robotic surgery , stem cell tissue regeneration , concussion prevention and human motion . The center ’ s Sports Concussion Program is directed by some of the country ’ s leading researchers in sports concussion management , including Mark Lovell , Ph . D . , director of the NFL and NHL ’ s neuro - cognitive testing program . The program ’ s goals involve developing methods of evaluating the short - and long - term effects of concussion so that a better determination can be made as to when it is safe for an athlete to return to active sports following a concussion . The center has private examination rooms , and on - site digital x - ray units , and an open magnetic resonance imaging unit designed specifically for the types of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries commonly seen at the center . The diagnostic imaging equipment is highlighted by UPMC - developed filmless digital radiology workstations that provide high - precision x - ray and MRI displays in each of the 34 exam rooms that is instantly accessible on - site via computerized web - based images that can be stored as well as clearly transmitted for consultation anywhere in the world . The center ’ s physical therapy and rehabilitation area is fully equipped for physical therapists and athletic trainers to direct specific types of injury rehabilitation . The physical therapy and rehab area also has a 25 - by - 30 - foot therapeutic pool and a functional gym providing athletes with functional assessment of their rehabilitation progress with their therapist on site . The training and rehabilitation gym is equipped with extensive circuit machines , free weights , and isokinetic and aerobic equipment , a plyometric training floor to help recovering athletes regain power and restore quick movement capabilities , and specialized equipment and training area to simulate an athlete ’ s performance requirements . In addition to sports injury management , the center also provides a comprehensive Sports Performance Program that is individualized to each athlete , concentrating on achieving optimal athletic performance while preventing injury . The program usually begins with advanced neuro - musculoskeletal assessment in the center ’ s Neuromuscular Research Laboratory . Specific components of the program may include strengthening and conditioning , improving speed , agility and joint stability , identifying and managing any potential areas of weakness , injury prevention , sports massage therapy and nutrition counseling as well as sport - specific skills training . The Sports Performance Program serves a daily clientele with individualized goals for personal fitness and athletic performance ranging from world - famous elite and professional athletes to nationally known college athletes to local high school and recreational athletes . The Center also provides all of its services to many non - athletes with other types of musculoskeletal injuries related to physical activity . Hundreds of elite athletes and famous individuals have been served at the UPMC Sport Performance Complex including , to name a few , golfer Greg Norman , Tour de France winners Miguel Indurain and Greg LeMond , wrestler Kurt Angle , hockey star Mario Lemieux , hurdler Roger Kingdom , football stars Dan Marino and Jerome Bettis , ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov , actress Kathleen Turner , along with other athletes from the Panthers , Steelers , Duquesne Dukes , Pittsburgh Pirates , and Pittsburgh Penguins . Indoor Practice Facility . The indoor practice facility contains a full - size FieldTurf football field , surrounding track , a racquetball court , and a separate strengthening / conditioning area . The indoor practice facility , which reaches high at its center ridge , is almost entirely taken up by a full - size indoor football field with a goal post at each end and surrounded by a four - lane running track . Located in a separate area of the indoor practice building is a area fully equipped for the strengthening and conditioning components of the Sports Performance Program . Panthers / Steelers Building . The Panthers / Steelers indoor training , coaching and management building is split evenly in half , with both organizations having two floors . On the building ’ s first floor are the teams ’ weight training and athletic training rooms ; locker rooms ; and a cafeteria - style kitchen and dining room . On the second floor are team meeting and film viewing rooms , coaching and administrative offices ; and working media rooms . In their half of the building , the Panthers have installed a Panther Hall of Fame and a state - of - the - art training facility , which includes the Duratz Athletic Complex , which features expansive training rooms , team meeting and film - viewing rooms , weight rooms and dining facilities . It additionally houses coaching and administrative staff offices as well as the Panthers ' academic support personnel . Each Panthers coach has their own meeting room for their positional players complete with state - of - the - art video capabilities . The quarterback meeting area was named the " Dan Marino Room " in honor of the former Panthers quarterback and Hall of Famer and was dedicated in November 2000 when Marino returned to his alma mater for a special ceremony honoring his retirement from the NFL . Pitt ' s locker room features 128 lockers which are personalized for each Panthers player . Pitt ' s facilities also include the Hearst Academic Center for Student - Athletes that features a computer lab and student reference library as well as a full - time academic counselor and graduate assistant that are on hand to help the Panthers players in the classroom . The Panthers ' weight room is furnished with the latest in training equipment and is utilized year - round for both offseason and in - season lifting regimens . Termed the " Pitt Iron Works " , Pitt ' s weight room was named by " Muscle & Fitness " magazine as one of the " top 10 toughest gyms in the United States " and has been lauded for providing one of the nation ' s most advanced training programs . The Steelers , along with their training facilities , have installed a library in tribute to the Steelers founder , the late Art Rooney . Outdoors , there are four side - by - side 80 - yard - long football practice fields which are ideally situated for private practices and have viewing towers and lighting for evening sessions . Three of the fields are natural turf and one was outfitted with Sportexe synthetic turf in June 2007 . In addition to being a major corporate sponsor of the teams , UPMC is the teams ’ preferred health care and sports medicine provider . Injury evaluation , treatment and rehabilitation as well as UPMC ’ s Sports Performance Program all are available to the athletes on - site year round .