The leadership of the North Shore School District, community leaders and BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers celebrated the official opening of the new athletic field, running track and supporting facilities.
The district encompasses a high school, middle school and three elementary schools. BBS served the district as architect and engineer for the project. Savin Engineers provided construction management services.
“The new, $3.8-million, 100,000-square-foot sports complex replaced and expanded the deteriorated facilities which were insufficient for the needs of the district’s 2,850 students,” says BBS Director of Architecture Joseph B. Rettig, AIA, LEED AP. “The new complex includes a multi-use, synthetic turf field; an eight-lane running track; and a 1,700-square-foot concession, bathroom and storage building.”
The creative financing for the project included a combination of the district’s private/not-for-profit and other public sources. This public/private combination of funding sources was unusual for a school-related construction project, but made financing easier at the time when local property tax increases in New York State are capped at 2%. The support of the Viking Foundation allowed the district to utilize funds raised through direct taxation to maintain the necessary level of instructional activities, while still making the construction of the new field and track possible.
The BBS team faced several engineering challenges, including the requirement to protect a neighboring wetland recharge basin and a poorly draining fill and soil at the site of the new field.
The complex also includes a new, one-story, multi-purpose building that serves as the main entry port to the athletic facilities. The building consists of two structures connected by a pitched steel truss roof with gray asphalt shingles and a reverse gable. The entryway between the buildings is protected by a decorative iron gate. The entire athletic facility received a new security system. +
Related Stories
| Jun 2, 2014
Nonresidential construction spending expands in April
Ten of 16 nonresidential construction subsectors posted increases in spending in April, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.
| Jun 2, 2014
Parking structures group launches LEED-type program for parking garages
The Green Parking Council, an affiliate of the International Parking Institute, has launched the Green Garage Certification program, the parking industry equivalent of LEED certification.
| Jun 2, 2014
SOM unveils plans for Miami transit hub
The elevated station will be a key portal within All Aboard Florida’s rail system, the nation's only privately owned, operated, and financed rail network.
| Jun 1, 2014
Architect license upon graduation? NCARB aims to accelerate licensing process
Incorporating internship and examination requirements into university education, the regulatory organization looks to simplify and shorten the licensing process.
| May 30, 2014
MIT researchers create 'home in a box' transformable wall system for micro apartments
Dubbed CityHome, the system integrates furniture, storage, exercise equipment, lighting, office equipment, and entertainment systems into a compact wall unit.
| May 30, 2014
Riding high: L.A., Chicago working on their version of the High Line elevated park
Cities around the U.S. are taking notice of New York's highly popular High Line elevated park system. Both Chicago and Los Angeles are currently working on High Line-like projects.
| May 30, 2014
Developer will convert Dallas' storied LTV Building into mixed-use residential tower
New Orleans-based HRI Properties recently completed the purchase of one of the most storied buildings in downtown Dallas. The developer will convert the LTV Building into a mixed-use complex, with 171 hotel rooms and 186 luxury apartments.
| May 29, 2014
Turn your pen-and-paper sketches into digital drawings in seconds with this nifty gadget [video]
Funded through Kickstarter, iSketchnote uses a smart pen to instantly digitize hand-written notes and drawings.
| May 29, 2014
7 cost-effective ways to make U.S. infrastructure more resilient
Moving critical elements to higher ground and designing for longer lifespans are just some of the ways cities and governments can make infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters and climate change, writes Richard Cavallaro, President of Skanska USA Civil.
| May 29, 2014
Wood advocacy groups release 'lessons learned' report on tall wood buildings
The wood-industry advocacy group reThink Wood has released "Summary Report: Survey of International Tall Wood Buildings," with informatino from 10 mid-rise projects in Europe, Australia, and Canada.