Transforming a sports facility into a tournament-quality venue
In Minnesota, wet weather and temperature extremes can make maintaining fields challenging throughout sport seasons. As part of its comprehensive planning process, the City of Maple Grove decided to transform an unused parcel into a regional tournament-quality venue for soccer, football, and lacrosse.
Our team worked closely with City staff and others to design the Fernbrook Fields Athletic Field Complex: one of the largest facilities of its kind in the state. The 19-acre complex features four full-size, synthetic turf fields illuminated with energy-efficient LED lighting. The underdrain system and engineered subgrade keeps the fields dry during wet weather, providing stormwater storage and reducing peak flow to stormwater ponds and adjacent wetlands. Special technology incorporated into the field surface reduces temperatures by as much as 25 degrees, keeping players cooler during the summer months.
Fernbrook Fields provides much more than tournament-quality fields and an extended play season. Associated infrastructure improvements enhanced access to an elementary school, improving safety and traffic. The complex includes practice and warm-up areas, a park, restrooms, concessions, and facilities for community events.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- City of Maple Grove
- Award
- ACEC Minnesota, Honor Award, 2021
Alan Offerman, Associate, Senior Civil Engineer
I like to put myself in the client’s shoes to understand what keeps them up at night and see how we can improve their current situation.
Mike FitzPatrick, Electrical Engineer, Community Development
Safety is the number one factor in my electrical designs.
Tyler Johnson, Senior Associate
I find creative, cost effective stormwater management solutions that maximize space, meet regulations, and minimize future maintenance.
Tom Fidler, Senior Engineer, Transportation
Even while working through all the details and requirements of a design, try to keep in mind the problem the completed project will solve.
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