Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS) is pleased to announce that the Michael W. and Quirsis V. Riney Family Tennis Center located on its campus in Ladue has won a United States Tennis Association (USTA) Outstanding Facility Award for Educational Institutions. The award recognizes the center and MICDS as “an exemplary tennis venue, with a commitment toward the growth and development of tennis in the community.” Each year, the USTA recognizes facilities across the country to encourage increasingly high standards for construction and/or renovation. Past recipients include Princeton University, Texas A&M International University, and Southern Methodist University. Michael and Quirsis Riney accepted the award on behalf of MICDS at the US Open in New York, NY, on August 31.
The construction of the new tennis center, designed in partnership with Centerbrook Architects, replaced the aging asphalt courts that had long served the School’s boys’ and girls’ tennis teams, its physical education curriculum, and other School programs. The School completed construction in time for the spring 2025 season. “Facilities like the Michael W. and Quirsis V. Riney Family Tennis Center at MICDS are the foundation of tennis in America. Their commitment to creating welcoming, inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience the sport exemplifies what it means to grow the game at the grassroots level,” said Theodore Loehrke, Managing Director, Head of Section Partnerships, USTA. “Their work is helping ensure tennis continues to thrive in their community.”
The Michael W. and Quirsis V. Riney Family Tennis Center meets USTA standards and can host 12 matches at a time, arranged across practice, championship, and tournament batteries. The ADA-accessible venue features livestreaming technology, integrated team spaces, and elevated, covered viewing platforms with dedicated baseline stadium seating. It is an open-air community pavilion that serves as a central hub for matches and events. Athletes enjoy team meeting areas and a hitting wall for practice. This impactful space is a tremendous resource that not only pushes student-athletes and coaches to achieve at the highest possible level, but serves younger students in their PE classes and summer community tennis program participants as they continue to develop and grow as players.
“The Riney Family and the MICDS community were exceptional partners throughout the design process,” said Todd E. Andrews, AIA, Principal Architect at Centerbrook. “Together, we established a clear vision to enhance the experience for players, coaches, and spectators. The result is a championship-caliber facility that delivers exceptional playability, accessibility, and connectivity in an immersive environment that strengthens the sense of community around the sport.”
“Our goal as a coaching staff was to design a venue that elevates the MICDS Tennis program while also giving back to the broader St. Louis tennis community,” said MICDS Tennis Coaches Patrick Huewe and Brad Heinemann. “Whether we’re hosting high school championships, introducing tennis to local youth, or teaching tennis in P.E. classes, the Riney Family Tennis Center has created a seamless environment where players, coaches, and spectators feel like one unified team. It is an extraordinary honor to receive national recognition from the USTA for a space that brings so many people together.”
The center, for which the Riney family has also established an endowed fund to provide for ongoing, perpetual upkeep, hosts regional interscholastic championships and community summer clinics. Through a partnership with the Net Rushers Community Tennis Association, the venue also expands access to play for underserved communities. By pairing high-tech infrastructure with universal accessibility, the Riney Family Tennis Center inspires players of all abilities now and will continue to do so well into the future.
Project Credits
Design: Centerbrook Architects & Planners
Construction Manager: BSI Constructors
