The Woodhaven-Brownstown School District was able to transition a portion of their high school campus into a premier baseball and softball complex complete with artificial turf and an auxiliary practice field. The district has created a first-class destination facility that promotes athletic excellence and inspires student athletes. The complex was also designed to promote accessibility for all students, athletes, and community members regardless of gender or physical abilities.

Woodhaven High School is the only high school-level project to win a top honor in this category.

“The new baseball and softball complex marks a significant milestone for our district, enhancing the quality of our athletic programs,” said Mark Greathead, Superintendent of Woodhaven-Brownstown School District. “This state-of-the-art facility not only motivates and empowers our student-athletes, but also embodies our dedication to inclusivity and community engagement.”

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.

“The new athletic fields design helps Woodhaven promote their school’s excellence with bold logos and school colors that evoke a collegiate feel to the complex,” added Ron Boezwinkle, a client lead with GMB. “These enhancements not only elevate the school’s identity but also provide a vibrant and engaging environment for students and the community.”

Hudsonville’s new fieldhouse encompasses 104,000 SF of top-of-the-line athletics space that includes locker rooms, a 1/9 mile running track, two-levels of fitness and strength areas, a multipurpose tennis court, and three full size basketball/volleyball courts with spectator seating for 3,700 people. The unique top-loading design of the fieldhouse delivers a 360-view of the court floor and connects spaces on the upper level, making the facility ideal for hosting competitions, expositions, and community events.

“The new fieldhouse elevates the athletics experience for our entire student body, while also creating a welcoming space for the Hudsonville community,” said Dr. Doug VanderJagt, Superintendent of Hudsonville Public Schools. “We are so fortunate to have the community’s support to make this fieldhouse a reality. The final product reflects and celebrates the student talent that we have here in Hudsonville.”

“The fieldhouse spaces truly capture the essence of Hudsonville and serve as a source of inspiration for students,” said Matt Heidloff, landscape architect at GMB. “This project not only unifies the campus but also establishes a state-of-the-art facility where students and their families can feel welcome and proud.”

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.

AIA’s annual Honor awards celebrate excellence in local architecture and architectural design by honoring projects completed, individual architects, students, and community leaders for their contributions to the profession. Founded in 1857, AIA is the preeminent professional organization for architects across the country, working to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities through the creation and promotion of ethical standards and code of conduct for all members.

Grandville Public Schools needed a new middle school to serve 7^th and 8^th graders to support an influx of students in the district. Grandville has since repurposed the existing middle school into a 5/6 facility as part of a $94 million bond proposal passed by the community. The new, multi-story middle school boasts more than 200,000 square feet of teaching and learning space that is flexible and student focused. The facility’s design also incorporates many methodologies that enhance the social-emotional learning and development of middle school students.

“The design creates intentional collaboration spaces to encourage relationship building and promote learning with hands-on opportunities, which is really important for students at this transitional age,” said Jordan Johnson, project architect with GMB. “There is a place for every student to feel at home here.”

Multiple athletics spaces in the school give Grandville students plenty of opportunity to increase their physical activity and competitive sport pursuits. Most notably, this project included a significant upgrade in facilities for the district’s signature extracurricular robotics program, the Grandville Robodawgs. The robotics arena, the only built-for-purpose robotics competition center in the eastern United States, can host a variety of competitions with seating for up to 2,000 spectators. The adjacent multi-purpose gymnasium space can also convert from hosting traditional sports to becoming a venue for FIRST Robotics Competitions (FRC) and VEX Robotics with multiple competition fields and pits for up to 120 teams.

“This is a game changer for all West Michigan robotics and their programs who can use this top-notch facility to build their programs,” said Roger Bearup, Grandville Public Schools Superintendent.

The Grandville Middle School has been recognized as an award-winning project that will inspire other education leaders by the American School & University Magazine for a 2023 Outstanding Design Award. The project has also been featured in Education Snapshots.

Sparta’s new facility consists of eight, post-tensioned concrete outdoor courts at the high school as the final project of the $58.6 million bond passed in 2016. The tennis court project was part of an overall athletics overhaul that improved multiple athletic facilities for Sparta Area Schools and their community. The bond also included a new middle school, improvements to multiple elementary buildings, and upgrades to the football, soccer, and track stadium.

“Sparta Area Schools is very proud of our athletic facilities,” said Joel Stoner, Superintendent at Sparta Public Schools. “The new tennis courts are an amazing addition to our facilities and a highly appealing aesthetic added to the high school campus.”

The courts layout and design encourage movement throughout the complex, connecting the courts along a central walkway. The three-tier built in place seat-walls and portable bleachers create a variety of viewing opportunities for spectators. All courts and viewing sections are ADA accessible for an equitable fan experience. The new entrance, court colors and graphic elements unite the space in reflection of the Sparta district’s identity.

“Creating a centralized facility near the high school ensures that this program is highly visible and acts as a real celebration of athletics,” said Matt Heidloff, landscape architect at GMB. “This is a project the whole community of Sparta can be proud of.”

Sparta’s new facility consists of eight, post-tensioned concrete outdoor courts at the high school as the final project of the $58.6 million bond passed in 2016. The tennis court project was part of an overall athletics overhaul that improved multiple athletic facilities for Sparta Area Schools and their community. The bond also included a new middle school, improvements to multiple elementary buildings, and upgrades to the football, soccer, and track stadium.

“Sparta Area Schools is very proud of our athletic facilities,” said Joel Stoner, Superintendent at Sparta Public Schools. “The new tennis courts are an amazing addition to our facilities and a highly appealing aesthetic added to the high school campus.”

West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields and creates a one-of-a-kind intimate experience for fans and athletes alike. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art AV systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users. Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also creates accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.

“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”

Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms, establishes a venue for multiple sports and attracts the entire community to utilize the facility.

“This is a one-of-a kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a Landscape Architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”

This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB has also received four project of the year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects in the past twelve years.

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.

AIA’s annual Honor awards celebrate excellence in local architecture and architectural design by honoring projects completed, individual architects, students, and community leaders for their contributions to the profession. Founded in 1857, AIA is the preeminent professional organization for architects across the country, working to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities through the creation and promotion of ethical standards and code of conduct for all members.

Ludington Area School District and the surrounding community decided to consolidate the district’s three elementary schools and early childhood center into one new, centralized facility as part of their 2019 bond proposal. The new elementary complements the district’s forward-looking approach to curriculum design, facilities planning, and classroom design. The resulting building delivers spaces that are flexible and transitionally appropriate for each age group, with extended learning areas throughout to provide opportunities for students to find their place and help propel the district in a new direction around collaborative learning.

“The design of Ludington Elementary School was one of those rare feats that meets the needs of everyone,” said Dr. Kyle Corlett, Ludington Area School District Superintendent. “Our students love it, our staff love it, and our parents love it.”

The 155,00-square-foot elementary building establishes a learning ecosystem within the community and breaks down the classroom wings into smaller, grade-level centered neighborhoods that feel more approachable to an elementary-aged student. Recognizing that learning doesn’t happen only in the classroom, Ludington Elementary was designed with outdoor learning areas, dedicated extended learning areas, and niches in the corridors that function as an accommodated learning space. All of the shared amenities and special programs are organized along a center spine that connects all the neighborhoods together, creating a clear wayfinding path and circulation loop around the building.

“Ludington’s elementary students will experience a real transformation in their learning with this new facility, and it was such a rewarding process to work with the district’s team who really went above and beyond to approach education differently,” said Thom Danckaert, project architect with GMB. “Ludington believes that learning happens everywhere for everyone, and this building is a true testament to that belief.”

The Ludington Elementary School has been recognized as an award-winning project that will inspire other education leaders by American School & University Magazine for a 2022 Outstanding Design Award and by Learning by Design Magazine for a 2023 Outstanding Project Award. The project has also been featured in Education Snapshots, Learning by Design Magazine, and School Construction News.

In addition to the architectural design and engineering services provided by GMB, the elementary school was constructed by The Christman Company, a leading construction management firm. More information about the award-winning school can be found at this link.

Cranbrook’s new facility consists of eight, post-tensioned concrete outdoor courts with a 10-foot-high, elevated viewing concourse between the rows of tennis courts, as well as a 450-square-foot team room and restroom facility. The high-end professional courts on Cranbrook’s campus enable student athletes to have a facility to match their level of competition.

“The tennis complex began with the vision to equip Cranbrook with an extraordinary space for student athletes; the impact of that space, both beautiful and functional at the highest level, is palpable – in the way we can develop players, welcome spectators, support competition and celebrate tennis as a life-long sport,” said Aimeclaire Roche, President of Cranbrook Educational Community. “We are so fortunate to have the confidence of the philanthropic leaders who made this complex a reality, and to know the expertise of GMB architects, who planned and scaled the facility to compliment elegantly Cranbrook’s historic campus.”

“At GMB, we share a common goal with our clients to place students and their success at the heart of every project, and this facility is a testament to that goal,” said GMB landscape architect Matt Heidloff. “The landscape of the complex is the primary unifying feature for the programs and spaces throughout, it really unifies the overall fabric of the campus.”

This is the third time that a GMB project has been awarded a project of the year honor by the ASBA. Previous projects recognized for this honor include the William Clay Ford Courts at the University of Michigan (2018) and the VandePoel-Heeringa Stadium Courts at Hope College (2013). GMB has also received 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects in the past eleven years.

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)