Baltimore Ravens Install Thermory Sauna at Under Armour Performance Center

When the Baltimore Ravens renovated their Under Armour Performance Center, the recovery facilities got a serious upgrade. The centerpiece: a custom sauna built with Thermory thermo-magnolia wood, designed by ZGF Architects, one of the largest architecture firms in the U.S.

The project won Best Sauna & Spa at the Thermory Design Awards 2025, which drew 74 submissions from 21 countries across four categories.

The Design

ZGF used a custom thermo-magnolia C4J profile for the ceiling (installed with GRAD clips) and thermo-magnolia STS10 for the sauna walls and benches. The jury described the result as "immersive and sensory" with "clean, refined detailing" and praised the natural lighting integration.

Thermo-magnolia is one of Thermory's newer wood species for sauna applications, prized for its smooth grain, light color, and stability in high-heat environments. It's becoming a go-to for commercial and institutional projects where aesthetics matter as much as durability.

Thermory Design Awards 2025: 74 submissions from 21 countries. Four categories: Best Private House, Best Public Building, Best Interior, Best Sauna & Spa. Jury included architects from Italy, Estonia. Best Sauna & Spa: Baltimore Ravens Performance Center (ZGF Architects, thermo-magnolia). Full winners at thermory.com.

Pro Sports and Sauna

The Ravens project is part of a broader trend of professional sports teams investing in dedicated sauna and cold plunge facilities as part of their recovery infrastructure. Heat therapy has strong clinical backing for muscle recovery, inflammation reduction, and cardiovascular conditioning. For NFL teams with multimillion-dollar rosters, the ROI on a well-built sauna is straightforward.

The fact that the Ravens chose Thermory's premium material and hired ZGF (not a low-budget move) suggests that pro sports teams aren't just adding saunas as afterthoughts. They're treating them as serious design and performance investments.