Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion – Skagit Valley College
The Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion at Skagit Valley College is the first covered pickleball facility at a Washington community college and the largest in the region. Delivered through a design-build partnership between TRICO Companies, HKP Architects, and the SVC Foundation, the 25,000-square-foot pavilion provides ten courts for year-round play, student use, and regional tournaments such as the Tulip Tussle. Recognized with an AIA Citation Design award, the project exemplifies how collaboration and innovation create lasting community value.
Project Specifications
Location: Mount Vernon, WA
Square Footage: 25,000
Delivery: Design-Build
The Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion stands as a milestone in community partnership and design-build delivery. As the first design-build construction project for both Skagit Valley College and the SVC Foundation, and the first covered pickleball facility at a Washington state community college, it represents the power of collaboration in bringing community-centered projects to life.
TRICO Companies partnered with HKP Architects, the SVC Foundation, and generous donors to create a state-of-the-art 25,000-square-foot pavilion that houses ten courts, providing a year-round venue for one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. The facility not only serves students and the community but also hosts the Tulip Tussle, an annual tournament that draws hundreds of players and visitors to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
Designed with innovation and practicality in mind, the pavilion incorporates open side walls for natural ventilation, diffused daylighting for tournament-quality play, and storm-water management features that protect the courts from the Pacific Northwest’s rainy climate. Bird netting, wind-reducing berms, ADA-compliant restrooms, and an asphalt court surface selected to reduce joint impact all contribute to a player-focused experience.
By integrating functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics, the Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion demonstrates what can be achieved when local institutions, generous donors, architects, and builders come together with a shared vision. Recently recognized with an AIA Northwest Washington Citation Award for HKP Architects in recognition of Professional Excellence, the project sets a new standard for pickleball facilities across the region.