New Balance Field - Boston University

Boston, MA
Construction Cost: $21.5 million
Area / Square Feet: 110,000
Occupancy Date: September 2013

New Balance Field at Boston University is an environmentally friendly 110,000-square-foot venue that serves the university’s athletic and recreational programs, including its nationally ranked women’s field hockey team.

Replacing a rundown warehouse and parking lot, the field’s iconic entry gate and custom-built brick facade draw from the university’s architectural character. Surrounding trees, planters, benches and lighted sidewalks create a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment. The field has 500 stadium seats and sits atop a new 350-space parking garage.

The field incorporates many sustainability and energy-efficiency measures. With 60 percent of the wall surface open to the outside, the garage utilizes natural open-air ventilation. LED lights further improve energy efficiency, while field lights and speakers are angled to reduce light and sound pollution. Multiple field light settings reduce energy usage by moderating lighting intensity for varsity and recreational use.

Approximately 90,000 square feet of the field is covered by AstroTurf, the ideal surface for field hockey. Underground tanks harvest rainwater and water from field water cannons that is then used to irrigate landscaping and Babcock Street’s pocket park. Stormwater planters also minimize runoff.

New Balance Field has essentially doubled the university’s field capacity, providing much-needed space for varsity teams, as well as intramural and club sports programs.