Matthaei Center

Construction on the Matthaei Physical Education Center facility began in 1965 as part of the city's bid to bring the 1968 summer Olympics to Detroit. It covers 42 acres and is nearly 94,000 square feet of space. The 27,000 square foot of space can be divided into three well-separated units. The main gymnasium (used for volleyball) is located in section 111.

Upon men's and women's basketball moving out of the Matthaei's main gym for the newly-built Wayne State Fieldhouse prior to the 2021-22 season, the WSU volleyball program is the lone team that still calls Matthaei home.

With the basketball teams moving out of the facility, many additions and renovations in the past several years have been made to this space to make it more conducive to volleyball, including chair-back seating on the east side and bleacher seating on the west side. The new bleachers were installed in July 2011 following the addition of the chair-back seats that sit behind both the home and visitors bench area. Other items include a graphic wall-divider acknowledging WSU athletic history, and several championship wall banners that display the success of each past and present WSU sport. Just outside the main arena doors is the WSU Hall of Fame.

During the Fall of 2023, a new Teraflex Volleyball Court was installed as the facility continues to become more volleyball centric. The new surface replaced the parquet floor that was similar to that of Boston Garden, which was added in the Summer of 2004 and re-done in the Summer of 2014. A soon-to-be-completed HVAC system will be also be implemented throughout the Matthaei Center.

Additional projects also recently completed for the volleyball program inside Matthaei Center include a newly renovated locker room space and team film/meeting room.

Two hundred and sixty-nine (269) honorees are recognized for contributions dating back 105 years. The hall was completed in 2001. The department’s academic resource center for student-athletes is also inside the building, as well as the natatorium, three basketball courts, and offices for both athletics and Kinesiology. Other features include classrooms, a dance studio, and two weight rooms (one for classes and one for WSU student-athletes).

The effort to host the 1968 Olympics, and thus the construction of the Matthaei facility, was spearheaded by Frederick Matthaei, a native of Detroit, who graduated from Michigan.

A new office suite, lobby and film room were added in 2014.