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site design
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.
DGR Engineering performed the boundary and topographic surveying as well as the site design of school building addition as a subconsultant of Architecture, Inc.
The school facility addition design included storm sewer upgrades, pedestrian facilities to multiple building levels, enhanced and expanded parking, as well as significant embankment work to match the existing site constraints.
The addition cut off an existing overflow drainage path so an enhanced storm sewer system capable of draining runoff from a 500 year storm event was designed and constructed.
This project required working with a building design team and ownership group to overcome design challenges and communicate with all project stakeholders. The facility was completed and opened in late fall of 2015 for the Central Lyon Community School District.