Opened in 1989, the original multipurpose design of PNC Field lacked the intimacy, charm and fan amenities found in newer minor league ballparks. The renovation preserved key elements of the existing stadium — the field, lower seating bowl, home clubhouse and parking lot — while creating what feels like a brand new park.
The architectural components were detailed to reflect the horizontal aesthetic of the exposed rock veins in the mountains, sometimes in subtle ways — the joinery between materials and accent bands emphasize the horizontal striation of the mountainscape. Interiors were designed to incorporate thin navy-blue finishes, a referential nod to the blue pinstripe of the legendary Yankees’ team jersey.
A grove of mature oak trees that were carefully protected during construction now provide shade for the bar seating as well as a portion of the adjacent lawn seating area. Careful placement of locally harvested boulders, and specification of low-maintenance “woodland” landscape plantings add to the thematic design approach. A wooden bridge — perhaps the only one of its kind in the minor leagues — connects the infield concourse to the outfield concourse behind the oak grove.
