Located on the north edge of IU’s athletic campus, Bart Kaufman Field marks the beginning of a new era of excellence for Indiana baseball. Thanks to a careful selection of materials, the project’s distinctive design quality and personality seamlessly blend with neighboring facilities.
Traditional elements give a nod to IU’s long history of athletic excellence, while modern accents keep pace with contemporary ballpark design. The design uses an open-concourse stadium concept that allows spectators to still feel engaged in the game from hospitality and concessions areas. While budget constraints made the use of limestone cost-prohibitive, the design team worked closely with the client to select an exterior building material that would be an acceptable alternative.
Highlights of the new stadium include a synthetic turf field, new locker rooms, indoor and outdoor batting cages, an 1,800-square-foot press box, a scoreboard, sports lighting and sound systems, and two hospitality suites. Natural lighting is showcased in almost every space, including the team clubhouse, lounge, coaches’ offices and team meeting rooms. IU colors of crimson and cream were featured prominently in the interior spaces used exclusively by students, and crimson is displayed more prominently on the press box for visual impact.