ATF_Winter10:ATF_XC 09 1/11/11 10:33 PM Page 28
Outdoor Track of the Year
by Mary Helen Sprecher
T
here are tight deadlines and then there are the deadlines that are so tight the finished project practically squeaks. And when it came time to do the Ponderosa High School’s outdoor running track facility, school officials and sports facility contractors had one of the latter.
The challenge? Well, perhaps it’s best to envision it as a memo: TO: Beals Alliance and all participants FR: Ponderosa High School Please help us replace the high school’s existing decomposed granite track and its accompanying natural turf field. Replace it with a new, all-weather track and a synthetic turf field with inlaid striping for football and soccer, as well as field event facilities. Oh, and we start on April 1. Can you have it ready in time to host commencement on May 29?
2010 Outdoor Track of the Year, American Sports Builders Association Running Track Facility at Ponderosa High School Shingle Springs, California Looking down at the running track facility at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, California, it's easy to see only a great project—and impossible to guess that it was completed in record time. Photo courtesy of Beals Alliance, Folsom, California Architect/Engineer: Beals Alliance Suppliers: ACO Sport (slot drain) Sportsfield Specialties (goal post and soccer goal system, takeoff boards, pole vault box, sand catchers and shotput toe board) Mondo, USA (track surface) Robert Cohen Co. LLC (Mondo track surface installer) FieldTurf (artificial turf)
“The project was the first portion of a recently passed bond and was critical to the success of the overall bond campaign,” said Chris Sullivan from Folsom, California-based Beals. “The project began during track season and had to be completed to a level that would allow commencement ceremonies to be held on the field.” It was, by all accounts, a rush job for the ages and work had to start immediately. And even that part wasn’t without its challenges, added Sullivan. “The existing facility had 5 feet of grade change south to the north end, with the adjacent bleachers, concession and restroom structures to remain. The track was built to meet the existing grade at midfield with retaining walls at each end for a balanced earthwork site. Tolerance, drainage and accessibility issues dictated that the field would need to balance earthwork on site and remain accessible from all the adjacent amenities to remain.” Construction began in earnest and proceeded on an incredibly expedited schedule. “The project progressed to a point that base work was completed to accommodate graduation in order to maintain the overall schedule.” According to Sullivan, the project stayed on schedule, both before and after the graduation ceremony, because of constant communication including weekly construction meetings, submittal processing, ASIs, RFIs, punch lists and project closeout. “The lease/lease-back delivery method was utilized to ensure integration with the selected contractors and the design team from start to finish. Each element of the design was reviewed from concept to construction to ensure the end product was feasible from a budget, schedule and construction standpoint.” Completion of the project came in August of 2009, making the facility ready for the opening of the 2009–2010 academic year and the Bruins’ athletic seasons. The finished facility is adjacent to the school’s tennis courts and baseball diamond.