The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) grants 2021 Distinguished Facility Awards for three GMB projects
The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities, has announced the winners of its annual awards, and GMB took home three 2021 Distinguished Facility Awards.
Awards are presented each year to facilities built by ASBA members, which best exemplify excellence in sports facility design and construction, as well as an understanding of the technical requirements and current professional standards for athletics facilities. Projects are scored individually based on considerations such as layout and design, site work, drainage, base construction, surface, amenities, innovation, and overall impression.
While recognition for our work is certainly an accomplishment for our design team, we believe these awards are more important for our clients whose investments pay off with exceptional facilities that are durable, long lasting, and enable high quality of play, not to mention the beautiful designs drawing attention to their campuses.
At GMB, we share a common goal with our clients to place students and their success at the heart of every project, by creating places that impact future generations in ways that unlock opportunity and provide resilience for our communities.
Clarkston High School Multi-Purpose Field
Clarkston, Michigan
As part of the district’s athletics upgrades, a new multi-purpose field was constructed to support Clarkston’s growing year-round needs and provide a premier facility for both their soccer and lacrosse programs. The project included a new durable and functional turf field, storage facility, lighting, scoreboard, and ADA access to the facility from the parking lot area up the hill. The facility offers the district scheduling flexibility for the entire athletics department and other student activities. Beyond sports, the field is used for marching band practice and student activities as well as community events and youth play. A similar color scheme and logo design as the main turf field creates a cohesive brand for outdoor athletics at the campus.
A highlight of the field’s design is the placement adjacent to an old-growth tree canopy and winding ADA accessible walkway down to the facility from the newly created ADA parking along the roadside. The pathway includes a continuous steel handrail and is wide enough to accommodate emergency and maintenance vehicle access.
Partners and Suppliers: Auch Construction (construction manager), G2 Consulting Group (geotechnical engineer), Sprinturf (turf surface and subbase), Cortis Bros Trucking & Excavating (Earthwork), Fessler & Bowman (concrete), Sportsfield Specialties, Musco, Daktronics, ADS, Keystone Retaining Wall Systems, Michigan Fence (Merchants Metals)
Mason High School Tennis Courts
Mason, Michigan
The Mason High School tennis courts are located within the heart of the Mason community and are the few publicly accessible courts in the greater area, serving thousands of players each year. The existing asphalt tennis courts were in complete disrepair resulting from age, improper drainage strategies, and organic subsoils and required a complete reconstruction. In late 2020, the Mason Public Schools district was notified by the United States Tennis Association that it was awarded their “Facilities Services Grant” and met their criteria for design and construction, largely because of the extensive programming the facility could support.
This project included the demolition and removal of eight existing, failing tennis courts and the associated fencing, replacing them with twelve post-tensioned concrete tennis courts. The redesigned space provides new electrical hookups for ball machines, windscreens, new netting, and better drainage around the tennis courts to ensure longevity of the facility. The landscaping is intentionally simple, utilizing the existing large canopy trees to the south and north to provide the context for the site, and the use of movable planters within the facility soften the area while keep maintenance requirements low.
Partners and Suppliers: Burgess Concrete Construction (general contractor), D.R. Parks & Assoc. (specialty contractor), Racquet Sports (surface), ACO Sport (trench drain), Douglas Sports (posts and nets), Edwards (scoring), Putterman (windscreens), Straight Line Fencing (fencing), Buist Electric (electrical), Rumsey & Sons (sub-contractor)
Delton Kellogg High School Turf Field
Delton, Michigan
Delton Kellogg High School sought to convert a natural grass field to an artificial turf field to enable multipurpose use year-round. The scope of work included full excavation and replacement of subgrade, removal of irrigation, installation of a new drainage system that ties into the site drainage, and the new artificial turf field as well as restoration of the existing football uprights and the addition of new soccer nets.
With an expanded drainage system to ensure limited maintenance and longevity of the field, the district is able to use the turf field throughout the year for gym, marching band practice, strength and conditioning, and even for special events and ceremonies.
Partners and Suppliers: Christman Construction (construction manager), SME (geotechnical engineer), Schmitz Foam Products (shock pad), Shaw Sports Turf (turf), Kwik Goal, Green Turf & Sports (installer), Lounsbarry Excavating, Inc. (stone base and drainage system), Circuit Electric, Inc. (electrical)
