New Projects: Chicago Cubs; Arizona State University; Luther College

The Chicago Cubs have broken ground on a new spring-training stadium in Mesa, Ariz.

(Renderings Courtesy of City of Mesa)

The Chicago Cubs have broken ground on a new spring-training stadium in Mesa, Ariz. The $99 million project (pictured) will also be home to Arizona State University's baseball program, which currently operates out of outdated Packard Stadium. The new stadium will seat 15,000 and include seven grass practice fields (one exclusively for ASU use), as well as a separate clubhouse for ASU. Populous of Kansas City mixed elements of Wrigley Field with distinct local features in the facility's design. Construction is expected to be complete in late 2013, with both teams utilizing the facility for the 2014 season.

Luther College begins work this month on a new aquatic center. Miller Natatorium will house an eight-lane competition pool and diving area, and will feature a state-of-the-art timing system and more deck space to accommodate larger collegiate and high school tournaments. The $5.9 million aquatic center will also include a shallow-water pool for swimming lessons and water aerobics. Designed by Opus Design Build of Minneapolis, the facility is expected to open in May 2013.

The Palm Bay (Fla.) Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Palm Bay Youth Athletic Association, has broken ground on a new football field at Veterans Memorial Park. The project's first phase will see the construction of a 100-yard football field, a new irrigation system, a scoreboard, a lighting system, fencing, refurbished bleachers, an announcers' booth and additional parking. The East Bay Little League facilities will be demolished and games played at another location, making more room for a second phase, which will relocate the park's basketball courts and add a walking path and benches. The entire project is expected to be complete by December.

First Pitch

New Orleans' Jefferson Parish has acquired the final piece of land and is in the design phase of a recreation center for people with disabilities. The project is part of an expansion to the Mike Miley Playground and will include a swimming pool, a basketball half-court, and a wheelchair-accessible baseball diamond. Meyer Engineering Inc. of Metairie, La., is designing the new facility, and construction is expected to begin next year... A deal has been reached for the construction of a new stadium to replace Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Sask. Funding for the $278 million stadium will be provided by the province, city and Roughriders football team. Design for the new facility is still taking place, and construction is expected to begin in 2013... The Potomac Nationals have announced plans to build a new stadium in Woodbridge, Va., as part of a $70 million public-private partnership with Prince William County and the Virginia Department of Transportation. The $25 million stadium will replace the aging Richard Pfitzner Stadium with a state-of-the-art facility and feature an open concourse, picnic areas and party decks, as well as private suites. It will accommodate the minor league team's home games, as well as concerts, community functions and other public events. The proposal has yet to be approved by the Board of County Supervisors.

Grand Openings

Missouri City Recreation and Tennis Center

(Photos by Jamie Hopper)

Missouri City Recreation and Tennis Center

(Photos Courtesy of Cannon Design)

The Betty Ann Ong Recreation Center (above) has reopened in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown. The $21 million project included a partial demolition and full renovation of the indoor gym, basketball court and children's play area, upgraded infrastructure and improved accessibility. Built along a steep hill, a renovated playground sits level with the building's third story and features a rainwater collection system that provides irrigation for the center's landscaping, one of the energy-efficient features contributing to the building's LEED Silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council... Whittier (Calif.) High School is wrapping up construction of a $1.5 million athletic fields project this month. The school's baseball, football and softball teams will all have new fields. A new track and irrigation system is also included in the project, as are new bleachers, dugouts and protective cages for the baseball and softball fields. The project is part of a $75 million bond that is funding renovations of all five of the school district's athletic fields... A new track and field complex opens this month at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School in Cambridge, Ont. The $1.4 million project includes an eight-lane track, as well as designated areas for discus, shot put, long jump, high jump, steeplechase and javelin throw. The project will also include the construction of the area's first synthetic turf football field, as well as a turf field for soccer and field hockey. The complex, a joint venture between the Waterloo Region District School Board and the City of Cambridge, will be used by the school during the day, but operated and maintained by the city... California Polytechnic State University's San Luis Obispo campus has completed a 100,000-square-foot expansion and 65,000-square-foot renovation of its recreation center (below). Working within a limited space, the addition wraps around the existing building. Included in the expansion are a two-court gymnasium, raquetball courts, an exercise area, administrative offices, a running track, an outdoor climbing tower, an outdoor leisure pool and sand volleyball courts. Designed by Los Angeles-based Cannon Design, the recreation center is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification, incorporating shaded glazing for glare-free natural lighting and an indirect-direct evaporative-cooling air-handling system.