Aberdeen, SD (2021)
AIA SD Merit Award in Architecture
Together with our friends at DLR Group, we designed the Northern State University Regional Sports Complex with the end game in mind.
The $38M NSU Regional Sports Complex is home to a competition football stadium and softball field: Dacotah Bank Stadium and Koehler Hall of Fame Field, respectively. An addition to the existing basketball arena (the Barnett Center) was also part of the project. We even convinced the University to vacate 15th Street between the stadium and arena to improve the gameday atmosphere. A walking bridge now spans the distance between the stadium and Barnett Center where the 15th Street once ran through.
The stadium is first-rate, with roughly 4,500 fixed seats plus room for another 2,500 across the loge level, suite level, party decks, and the field’s perimeter berm. Abundant concessions, restrooms, and a team store are accessible for all fans. The premium seats have access to private restrooms and additional concessions options. Two tailgating lots flank the stadium.
The new facilities have put the proverbial ball in motion for NSU. Better athletic facilities attract better recruits, which (hopefully) means more winning -> more donors/funding -> better learning facilities -> improved academic outcomes -> more student applications -> higher enrollment. It’s a whole circle-of-life, Hakuna-Matata, arrivederci thing.
Actually, I’m not sure about the arrivederci part. But we’re working with NSU on a handful of projects now, so maybe it checks out.
