Shirley Clements Mewborn Field offers players and visitors a big-league stadium experience in a small urban space. The complex features a VIP/recruiting and press area, decks for viewing and socializing, new lighting and indoor batting cages. The grandstand stretches from dugout to dugout, with a seating capacity of 750, while the press box and grandstand are oriented to allow fans a view of downtown Atlanta. Future construction adjacent to the softball field will add locker rooms, meeting rooms and coaches’ offices.
The intricate exterior pattern features five different types of masonry with integrated cast-stone accents, giving the building a collegiate feel while also allowing it to blend in with surrounding buildings. An innovative system integrates protective netting with the field lighting supports and press box, eliminating the need for additional vertical supports and allowing for unobstructed field views.
Though the field was constructed four feet below grade, there is a 25-foot grade change from the playing surface down to street level. By designing the ballpark’s entrance at the concourse level, with the seating in a lower bowl, the facility provides fans with a grand entrance. While most stadiums face northeast, designers chose a southeast orientation to optimize fans’ views.
