Collegiate Ballpark Renovation for University of San Diego Toreros
Project Overview
Seeking to become one of the premier Division 1 baseball programs in the country, the University of San Diego Toreros are undergoing an extensive ballpark renovation. The existing tiered metal benches are being replaced by a larger cast in place seating bowl that will accommodate individual stadium chairs and raise the seating capacity to approximately 1,600. The remodeled facility will have the ability to expand up to 3,000 seats to meet the requirement for hosting regional tournaments, thereby generating national television exposure for the program. The dramatic renovation will provide amenities comparable to top Minor League Baseball parks including an iconic entry, private suites, a press box, a kid’s play area, and open terraces with the design flexibility to host special events. New team facilities will also be added, including a home team locker room and lounge, coaches’ offices and locker room, training facility and video coaching room. In addition to providing a distinct competitive advantage to the University’s baseball team, this dynamic facility will strengthen connections with the neighboring community, providing the school and its many alumni and supporters with a top tier venue that pays homage to the unique and treasured aesthetic of the campus.
Our Role
JMI Sports provided expertise and guidance to the University of San Diego during the design and preconstruction phases of its ballpark renovation. Design management services included: articulation of the project vision, creation of the architectural request for proposal, support in the procurement process for the project architect and design team consultants, assistance with conceptual planning, and oversight on the development of the architectural drawings. Working in partnership with the project architect, JMI Sports fostered the creation of a design that both embraces and enhances the natural garden-like setting, while also taking advantage of the premium sightlines resulting from the extremely challenging site in order to create a beautiful and unique ballpark. In addition to managing the design effort, JMI Sports was intimately involved in all facets of preconstruction including: detailed analysis of the project budget, assistance with the contractor procurement process, comparison of general contractor estimates, identification of value engineering opportunities, and formulation of deductive and additive alternates. Most importantly, the role of JMI Sports has been to assist in the decision-making process for the endless number of items that need to be determined in order to design and build a ballpark that meets the University’s superior standards. The ballpark is expected to break ground in the summer of 2012.