Time Warner Cable Field Renovation

Pendulum Studio has been selected to design the renovation of Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium located in Grand Chute, WI.  The ballpark was originally constructed in 1995 during an era of MiLB ballparks geared primarily toward compliance with minimum National Association (NA) facility standards.   Although this strategy provided a safe and comfortable destination for enjoying America’s favorite pastime, shifts in the traditional baseball business model over the past 17 years has presented quite a few challenges for most teams operating in facilities built prior to the late 90’s.  Some of the key challenges associated with maintaining a competitive edge in aged facilities are as follows:

  1. Shortage of concession points of sale
  2. Lack of appropriate toilet fixture ratios
  3. Lack of diversity in seating inventory
  4. Absence of premium amenities
  5. Limited ability to function on a year-round basis
  6. inadequate storage capacity

While the traditional  baseball business model focused on the “game”, the new in minor league baseball is centered around maximizing fan comfort and family entertainment.  Although “the game” is still the vehicle for attracting patrons to the front gates, “the show” between innings on the field, during the game in the stands and on the concourses is what keeps people (especially families) coming back for more.  Because of the popularity in this trend, new and renovated facilities are moving toward more compact lower density seating configurations that promote diversity in seating inventory (group, premium, semi-premium) versus the typical fixed armchair seating.  In the wake of the decline of corporate participation in the form of sponsorship and long-term premium suite lease agreements we now see teams trending heavily toward multi-use flex spaces in the form of meeting rooms and banquet space that can also be configured to accommodate traditional suite functions during games.  This move has enabled teams to extend facility use beyond the confines of the regular season thus also maximizing the potential for revenue which promotes economic sustainability.

Stadium Improvements

The planned improvements to Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium are geared toward complimenting some of the forward thinking improvements that were already completed prior to the previous season.  These improvements were instrumental in diversifying existing seating inventory  – i.e. the first & third base bullpen premium seating shown below.

This next phase of improvements will focus on relocating enclosed premium inventory from the main concourse to a newly constructed suite/banquet level, expanding administrative, retail, food service and storage capacity while increasing the ability of the facility to accommodate year-round events.  The images below illustrate the proposed look and feel of our schematic design concepts.  We will continue to update this imagery as we progress toward the final design and documentation.  It is an honor to be working with the Timber Rattlers on this exciting project.  Opening day in April 2013 is going to be special.

Five Year Anniversary

If there is one thing we’ve learned in the past five years it is that economic sustainability is key to survival.  This applies to business practice in general but in a greater sense it applies to how we approach projects as architects, designers, and collaborators in the future of the built environment.  It is clear that as key influencers in decisions related to site selection, program, building systems and materials, our ability to equip our clients with an environment that promotes long-term sustainability (environmentally and economically), is in many cases the determining factor between project success and failure.

Although we’ve always been individually business minded, I have to admit that five years ago this discussion would have been skewed more heavily toward our passion for design…and although aesthetics/outward appearances continues to be one of our many priorities, experience has taught us that real design success is often gauged by our ability to navigate the politics, the budget, and the business end of the business.

The past five years have taught us about the evolving definition of “capacity” :

1. Our client’s perception of our capacity (as in competence) to design and document the work.

2. Our clients perception of our capacity (as in the appropriate staff) to execute the work.

3. Our client’s perception of our capacity (as in financial ability) to maintain the work.

The projects below document the five-year journey from our firm’s infancy to adolescence.  Each project listed certainly contributed to our growth from the aforementioned first phase of “capacity” to the next.  We are still learning, we are still growing, but most importantly we are still in love with this profession.  We thank our clients for their confidence in our firm and look forward to what the future will bring.

Pendulum Studio Built Work 2009 – 2011

East Village Apartments

The East Village Apartment building is the first phase of a master planned ten block redevelopment of downtown Kansas City, MO.  This fifty-unit, four-story residential building was designed to complement the neighboring Power & Light Entertainment District and accommodate Kansas City metro citizens that desire to live and work within the urban core. As the master architect for the development, Pendulum Studio was instrumental in the creation of design standards and development guidelines for the Urban Redevelopment District (URD) approved by the City of Kansas City Planning and Zoning Commission.

Swope South Health Clinic

The Swope South Health Clinic is a 5,000 square foot tenant improvement of an abandoned strip mall located at 87th Street and Troost in Kansas City, MO.  The scope of the project included selective demolition of existing partitions, cooking equipment, and finishes to be replaced by exam rooms, community meeting space, and administrative offices. This project is an example of Pendulum’s ability to deliver a turn-key, fast tracked solution that included general design, interior finishes, FF&E selection and coordination, custom fabrication, and construction management.  The total scope of work was completed in four months.

The Corn Crib

The Corn Crib is a multi-purpose sports facility shared by the Normal Cornbelters, a Frontier League Independent Baseball Club, and Heartland Community College men’s and women’s athletics which includes baseball, softball, and soccer. The stadium consists of 4,500 fixed seats, twelve premium suites, four locker rooms, and a flexible artificial turf playing surface equipped with a removable pitching mound that accommodates quick changeover between events.  In addition tot he aforementioned cope, the total project cost included a soccer and softball practice field, 600 paved parking spaces, and 600 grass parking spaces. The Corn Crib is a good example of Pendulum’s ability to deliver a significant project scope with a modest budget on a fast-tracked schedule.

Rooftop Hospitality

This rooftop hospitality building is located on the uppermost floor of the Cosentino’s Market parking garage at the corner of 14th Street and Main directly adjacent to the Jones Pool.  The building program consists of four water closets, three urinals, six lavatories, a drinking fountain, and storage area. The purpose of the building is to allow the City to serve patrons that desire to eat lunch or walk and enjoy the sun during the work week.  During the evening hours and on weekends when the weather is favorable, wedding receptions and civic events can be hosted on the rooftop comfortably accommodating up to 600 patrons. Although the City required a conventional “bricks and mortar” delivery method, Pendulum learned valuable lessons from this project.  Given the right circumstances the implementation of a prefabricated “off-grid” delivery method would allow the installation of an identical building for half the budget in half the time.  Pendulum continues to study this modular approach to design that will be showcased in future projects.

On Deck…

AP23 Indoor Sports Complex – Columbus, OH

Bethany Medical Clinic – Wyandotte County, KS

Crime Lab – Kansas City, MO

KCP&L Cross Town Sub-Station

Rush Wade/2 Studio & The Guild – Kansas City, MO

Time Warner Cable Field Renovation – Appleton, WI

The Reason We Are Here

As we look optimistically toward the future and the next chapter in our story we must without question offer many thanks to the individuals that have been instrumentally supportive of our existence:

For Inspiration and Encouragement:

Dr. Donovan Case, Mrs. Carolyn Case

Mr.Jonathan Cole Sr., Mrs. Bernice Cole

For Tolerance and Understanding:

Katrina Case, Darian Case, Jasmine Case

Theresa Cole, Ethan Cole, Jordan Cole and Gianna Cole

“All In A Days Work” – Audio interview about life, love and sports architecture

Click the link below to listen to a recent audio interview with co-founding principal of Pendulum Studio, Jonathan Cole and @DaysWorkPodcast.  The topics for discussion included the pursuit of architecture as a profession, relationships and market approach within sports architecture, marketing politics, project financing and favorite ballpark projects…dreams.

Audio Interview with Jonathan Cole, Ballpark Architect – Episode No. 48

Group to offer private financing, construction proposal for new ballpark in Wilmington, NC

04.11.2012

Wilmington, N.C. – This morning, the Atlanta Braves and Mandalay Baseball announced that a group of local, regional and national developers and investors will present the City Council with a proposal to privately finance and construct a new ballpark in Wilmington.

This team, including developer Raiford Trask III, architectural firm LS3P and co-developer Flywheel, LLC, will take the next 30 days to draft a plan, including costs and benefits for the City of Wilmington. The plan will then be presented to the City Council who will have the opportunity to review and vote on the proposal after it is vetted by an independent firm, which the city is expected to name next week.

Mike Plant, executive vice president of the Atlanta Braves said that this is a financing model the Braves have used to great success.

“We believe the city council will quickly recognize the value and opportunity this approach provides,” Plant said.

The ballpark will remain a public-private partnership between the city and private investors, and the Braves and Mandalay have restated their long-term commitment to Wilmington. One potential benefit of private financing is a longer potential loan term that reduces annual costs. In addition, the city will not be taking on the construction and financing risks, which will be borne by the private developers.

Rich Neumann, president of baseball development for Mandalay Baseball said that today’s announcement and this private proposal come as a response to several conversations he’s had with Wilmington residents in the past few months.

“I have had conversations with all the members of the City Council, Wilmington business leaders and residents, and one of their chief concerns has been the city taking responsibility for financing and constructing a ballpark,” Neumann said. “Thanks to Raiford and Clay and the group here today, we can address their concerns while also putting together a great deal for the city.

“Making the announcement with us today, we have our entire development and financing team. These respected local groups will put together and present the city council with a proposal for their consideration in time for budget deliberations.”

Neumann said that today’s announcement represents an important next step for the project.

“Ultimately, a privately-funded ballpark will be a better deal for Wilmington, and addresses the concerns we’ve heard from taxpayers,” Neumann said.

Members of the development team include:

Mike Plant and Chip Moore with the Atlanta Braves
Rich Neumann with Mandalay Baseball Properties
Clay Boardman with Flywheel, LLC in Augusta, GA; co-developer
Raiford Trask with Trask Land Company in Wilmington, NC; co-developer
Chris Boney with LS3P Associates Ltd. in Wilmington; lead architect of the development team
Laura Miller with LS3P Associates
Jonathan Cole with Pendulum Studio in Kansas City, MO; design architect
Chet Roach with Brailsford & Dunlavey in Charlotte, NC; project manager
Mark Jones with Brasfield & Gorrie in Raleigh, NC; co-construction manager
Chris Reid with Thomas Construction Group in Wilmington, NC; co-construction manager
Richard Collier and Margaret Gray with McKim & Creed in Wilmington, NC; civil engineers

KCP&L East Crossroads Art Wall Update

As an update to our last post we’ve installed the full size art wall mock-up on site at the corner of 19th and Cherry (KCP&L Crosstown Sub Station).  If you are in town feel free to visit and experience the scale of the project in context.  The majority of the block will be wrapped with our steel panel system…approximately 1000 feet.  The temporary lighting installation should be on site later this week…we’ll keep you posted.

Just in case you are wondering, the diagonal bracing flanking both sides of the mock-up will NOT exist in the final design, this is a temporary fix for a minor logistical issue…they always seem to pop up at the most inopportune times.

East Crossroads Art Wall…Making Progress

We recently completed 90% construction documents on a new Crossroads Art Wall that will encase an existing KCP&L Substation located at 18th and Holmes.  A Full scale 12′ x 12′ plywood mock-up with concealed color changing Lightwild LED fixtures was constructed as an intermediate “check and balance” prior to breaking ground.  The mock-up revealed last-minute adjustments that would be required to maximize the execution of  lighting, media programming, and long-term security.

Once the Owner approved the preliminary mock-up pictured above, Zahner immediately starting constructing a final full-scale version in weathering steel (Solanum Steel).  The official groundbreaking will be held on site shortly, construction is scheduled to be complete by early summer 2012.

We almost forgot to mention…it’s powered by solar.

Multi-Sport

Double sided press box/suite structure with an administration/banquet space down the line.  Baseball, Football, Soccer, Track & Field…”economic sustainability” requires flexibility.

One of the critical components of a successful project is the elimination of unnecessary enclosed and conditioned square footage.  In this case, the combining of press facilities and shared premium space eliminates the need to construct two additional floors.

Future House – 2011 Solar Decathlon

If you follow our twitter handle @pendulum_kc, you are aware that we are keenly interested in the advancement of solar technology.  So much so that our office building is headed in the direction of being 75% independent of “the grid” by the end of 2012.  That being said, we were excited to attend the Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C. this year and get up to speed on where solar is headed.  One of the most exciting takeaways of the trip was the encouraging reality that the cost of solar panels as an individual component of a turn-key system is dropping rapidly, making this not so new technology more accessible to the masses.  With the cost of panels at half of what it was in the not so distant past, the idea of solar as a viable alternative to conventional energy sources especially at the residential and small commercial level has caused many to take note.

Diversity In Delivery

Beyond advancements in technology and increased affordability we were equally excited about the diversity in design and delivery of the entries in the competition this year.  Although there were varied levels of craftsmanship and execution, some of the design solutions were simply spectacular.  The images below illustrate some of the variety in materials, massing, design features and aesthetic on display.

One of the most impressive aspects of the competition aside from the work itself was the judging criteria.  The ten categories listed below focused almost exclusively on function, efficiency, and affordability; the question of whether your family can actually live a “normal” life in the space had to be addressed.  Design and aesthetic was also taken into consideration but was clearly not the singular driving factor in the accumulation of points.

Competition Criteria

1.0 Architecture (drawings & specifications)

2.0 Market Appeal

3.0 Engineering (drawings & specifications)

4.0 Communications (website & public exhibit)

5.0 Affordability

6.0 Comfort Zone (71 – 76 Degrees F)

7.0 Hot Water (deliver 15 gallons of 110 degree water within 10 minutes)

8.0 Appliances (refrigerator, freezer, 8 load of laundry, complete four cooking tasks during the week)

9.0 Home Entertainment (Host Two dinner parties – use TV, Computer, watch a movie)

10.0 Energy Balance (produce at least as much electrical energy as consumed during the week)

For more information on the competition visit the official Solar Decathlon website.