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Sioux Falls South Dakota
The City of Sioux Falls requested DGR Engineering’s (DGR) services in 2014 for improvements to a small drainage channel which was undersized, and some adjacent properties and structures had previously sustained flood damage during large rain events. After initial concepts were reviewed, the City opted to have DGR design the channel to handle more capacity, which required making the channel deeper and wider.
The project was put on hold for various reasons, but after almost ten years of coordination, design, and construction, this drainage channel project was finally completed in the summer of 2023. The contractor and subcontractors did an amazing job revitalizing an area that had been neglected and overgrown, and the property owners along Riverdale Road are now better protected against future flooding.
Project planning by Augustana University and DGR Engineering to upgrade Bowden Field to a championship level began in 2018, and eventually culminated in a new facility which opened for the 2023 season.
The biggest challenge: fitting a new modern facility within the existing field’s footprint (circa 1991). To achieve this, home plate was shifted approximately 12 feet south to maintain existing fencing dimensions and provide room for chair back seating and a fan suite/press box behind home plate. Also, an extended planning process was necessary to balance donation momentum with the university’s facility expectations for a championship-level facility.
The final project plan balanced design goals with the funding while utilizing bid alternates for several features to allow the University flexibility in decision-making in the following areas:
• Lighting
• Outfield padding
• Dugout Cabinets
• Press box lift
• Home team dugout kitchenette
• Chairback seating – Potential future addition space
The final result is a state-of-the-art facility that all parties can be proud of and that will serve the needs of Augustana University’s softball team and its fans for many years.