Georgia Tech has completed the second phase of renovations of the baseball park on its Atlanta campus.
The university says Phase II of renovation consists of $10 million in improvements to the facility, which has been renamed Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The architect is Populous, in association with Collins Cooper Carusi.
The highlight of the Phase II renovation is a climate-controlled elite training facility that will be used year-round by Georgia Tech student-athletes, as well as alumni and professional baseball players during the off-season.
“From the beginning, we knew we wanted to incorporate the latest technology into the design of the training facility, so we spent a lot of time coordinating with vendors to make sure all of their products from motion analysis cameras to pressure plates would seamlessly integrate into the pitching mounds, synthetic turf and building structure and systems,” says Norman Friedman, principal and senior architect at Populous. “With these systems in place at the ballpark, coaches can offer immediate feedback on velocity, bat speed, and more to help their student-athletes train at the highest level.”
The new training includes a 2,000-square-foot pitching and hitting lab and 5,000-square-foot batting tunnel. The pitching and hitting lab has motion capture cameras, tracking systems and floor pressure plates that can record and analyze data for each player in real time.
“The completion of Phase II of the renovations at Russ Chandler Stadium will provide student-athletes access to cutting-edge training technology, like our pitching and hitting labs that are built around the latest motion capture camera and tracking systems to provide immediate analysis and feedback,” said Todd Stansbury, director of athletics at Georgia Tech.
Fans will be welcomed by a new entry plaza that will provide a space to socialize on game days.
A key component of the improvements is Champions Hall, a two-story multipurpose gathering space created on the expanded concourse. It celebrates the history of Georgia Tech Baseball, highlighting conference championships and trips to the College World Series.
Champions Hall provides new premium chairback seating and a spacious event room that looks out onto the field during games. Champions Hall also will serve as a meeting space for the baseball team and an event space for other organizations and alumni gatherings.
The second floor includes the Mark Teixeira Skyline Terrace, a premium seating area that will provide some of the best views, including Georgia Tech’s campus and the Midtown Atlanta skyline.
A new home plate club and two outdoor suites are situated behind home plate and offer additional premium options for fans. New concessions and restrooms have been provided on the new expanded left field plaza.
