Increasingly, high schools and colleges and universities around the country are investing in cutting-edge synthetic turf fields. This summer, we’re wrapping up work on three Henrico County field upgrades....
Continue Reading
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At Draper Aden Associates, we’re huge sports fans and we pride ourselves on providing a game-changing approach to sports field design. We engineer the sports experience for fans, players, parents, and coaches at first-class facilities where memories are created, dreams are born, and athletic programs flourish. With the FIFA World Cup currently taking place, we wanted to spotlight past projects with a soccer component that perfectly encapsulate our commitment to create a lasting, positive impact. Let’s take a look at three signature projects: River City Sportsplex (formerly SportsQuest): DAA performed field engineering and construction management for the installation of 12 synthetic turf fields at the River City Sportsplex in Chesterfield, Virginia. Prior to the synthetic turf installation, DAA tested the installed aggregate drainage base as well as the planarity to make sure that the performance met the overall design and specifications. The synthetic turf installation was inspected for seam quality, striping plan...
Continue Reading
Although Henrico County public schools are quieter for the summer break, there is still a lot of activity on the football fields at Douglas S. Freeman, Hermitage, and Varina high schools. Those schools are the first set of county high schools to receive a major athletic upgrade as the fields are converted from natural grass to synthetic turf fields. Working with Sports Construction Management, DAA is on the project team responsible for designing and installing the new fields. Among the updated features include school names and colors on the tracks surrounding the fields and school logos on the 50-yard lines. Improved underground drainage and stormwater controls are further enhancements for the fields. DAA is responsible for designing the underground drainage and stormwater systems. We’re also is providing surveying, site planning, and civil engineering services....
Continue Reading
Creating a lasting, positive impact through engineering, surveying, and environmental expertise is at the very core of what we do at Draper Aden Associates. It’s always a fulfilling and enriching feeling to know that our firm and talented team members leave lasting effects in our local communities. This week, we want to highlight a project that perfectly encapsulates that lasting, positive impact: Greenwood Park in Henrico County, one of our most recent projects that will benefit local residents and help boost sports tourism in the Richmond region. Partnering with CHA Consulting, Inc., which designed Greenwood Park’s master plan, Draper Aden provided construction administration services. The plan for Phase One of the new 90-acre tournament quality sports complex included four lighted multi-purpose athletic fields, sand volleyball courts, a large restroom building, paved parking areas for over 300 vehicles, access road and roadway improvements, utilities, and on-site bio filters for low impact stormwater...
Continue ReadingOverlooked by most fans the playing surface is one of the most important aspects of a football competition. With the BIG game coming up in Bristol between Virginia Tech and Tennessee and not a lot of time to create a field, AstroTurf asked Draper Aden Associates to team with them. Using scanning technology, in only a few hours we provided survey verification of stone base planarity (proposed grade) of the playing field before the playing surface was installed. Uniformity may not seem like a huge deal tossing the ball around in the backyard but the NCAA has strict tolerance requirements for college football game surfaces. Even though the field is sloped for drainage you might say we helped level the playing field… (pun completely intended!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtuuxi4giSE&feature=youtu.be...
Continue Reading[metaslider id=5527] Highlights Location Richmond, VA Project Manager(s) Ken Piazza, Jr, PE Services Provided DA Athletics Geotechnical Engineering Site Development and Infrastructure Construction Materials Testing Surveying/Scanning Completion Date 2014 Draper Aden Associates provided civil engineering services, construction quality assurance, and surveying for the conversion of the natural grass baseball field at Pitt Field to custom-designed synthetic turf including the Richmond Spider logo prominently displayed in center field. The detailed scope of services included: Conceptual designs for constructing one grass field and one synthetic turf fields, playable for soccer and lacrosse Provided full detailing for the synthetic turf system Permitted POD documents through Henrico County utilizing a structural BMP for water quality calculations Bid phase services including prequalification and assistance with bidders and final contract award to general contractor and synthetic turf vendor Provided a geotechnical study for groundwater, subsurface conditions, and infiltration rates [wpbgallery id=5532] ...
Continue Reading[metaslider id=4199] Highlights Location Blacksburg, VA Project Manager(s) Charlie Kreye, PE Services Provided DA Athletics Site Development and Infrastructure Stormwater Management Surveying/Scanning Completion Date 2014 As a subconsultant to HKS Architects, Draper Aden Associates provided survey and site planning and engineering services including grading, erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, and utilities engineering for the new Indoor Practice Facility. The completed Virginia Tech Indoor Athletic Training Facility provides a full-sized, indoor NCAA regulation football field for the university’s football program and is suitable for other athletic programs including soccer and lacrosse. Support spaces and features include storage, convenience restrooms, videography platforms and audio / video systems. The Virginia Tech ITAF is constructed as a “punt facility” which provides 88-feet clear space along the mid-field axis and 72-feet clear along the sidelines. Additionally, Draper Aden provided construction phase service including subsurface utilities location, construction stake-out and site/civil site observation. [wpbgallery id=4206] ...
Continue Reading[metaslider id=4319] Highlights Location Henrico County, VA Project Manager(s) Ken Piazza, Jr, PE Services Provided DA Athletics Geotechnical Engineering Site Development and Infrastructure Construction Materials Testing Surveying/Scanning Completion Date 2014 Saint Gertrude High School (SGHS) turned to Draper Aden Associates to re-envision and revise their master plan for a 13.13-acre piece of land. The original concept included a track and field stadium, athletic training facility, and parking to serve the undeveloped property. However, SGHS wanted to explore additional opportunities for use including field and playing surfaces their athletics programs desperately needed. In a collaborative effort between SGHS and Draper Aden Associates, the re-envisioned concept and subsequent design included an artificial turf field, a multi-purpose natural turf field, a softball field, six tennis courts, an athletic training facility, concessions, an events pavilion, and an interpretive walking trail throughout the Outdoor Athletics Center. The new complex now provides a home for all outdoor athletic programs at a single location which gives...
Continue Reading[metaslider id=4300] Highlights Location Richmond, VA Project Manager(s) Ken Piazza, Jr, PE Services Provided DA Athletics Construction Materials Testing Geotechnical Engineering Completion Date 2012 The Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club (RKYSC) was envisioned as a place for children to play youth league soccer and experience the joy of sports. Initially, Draper Aden Associates was brought into the RKYSC project to help refine the scope and budget through Value Engineering. These Value Engineering efforts resulted in innovative site modifications to address environmental concerns, materials selection, and renegotiated construction contracts. Our geotechnical engineers helped to mitigate unsuitable fill material to create a balanced site, which eliminated the cost of transporting excess dirt. Additionally, during construction, our field technicians provided Quality Control for the installation of both synthetic turf and sodded athletic fields. The completed RKYSC facility consists of 7 lighted athletic fields, serves as the home of the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, and hosts a variety of...
Continue Reading[metaslider id=3818] Last week, Bob Bonk (DAA-Richmond) performed a complete indoor and outdoor 3D scan of the brand new Virginia Tech Indoor Practice Facility. Using point butt technology, the 3D scan created a true-scale 3D record of the existing conditions of the new facility. This scan will allow Virginia Tech to access 100% accurate data regarding the facility--information that can be used in future planning, creating a 3D model for BIM purposes, and even determining how to move large equipment or materials in and out of the building. In less than 12 months, HKS Architects and WM Jordan, along with Draper Aden Associates, broke ground and completed the soaring, state-of-the-art practice facility. With over 92,000 square feet of turf, and a ceiling more than 100 feet tall, it's the largest practice facility of its kind and is one that will allow not just the Hokies football team to practice in all kinds...
Continue Reading