YSU Athletic Training Facility

ms consultants provided final design services and construction administration for a new indoor sports practice facility for various athletic teams at Youngstown State University (YSU). The Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) provides athletes with year-round training amenities and protection from weather conditions.

In order to determine the necessary requirements and potentialities, ms was previously hired to conduct a preliminary program assessment. Several program options were developed to provide a main field house and support spaces. The main field house was envisioned to encompass an indoor football field, 300-meter track, batting cages, long jump pits, high jump pads, pole vault pads, and other indoor field activities. The support space   includes a lobby, public restroom, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and athletic storage with a total square footage was 125,000.

Due to the size of the facility, ms reviewed four possible sites located on the YSU campus. These sites were evaluated for both positive and negative attributes regarding site conditions, proximity to existing athletic infrastructure, available parking, pedestrian and traffic control, site densities, and visual impact analysis.

Additionally, ms reviewed three building types to accommodate the required program. The building types reviewed consisted of:

• A steel frame structure with fabric sheathing;
• A conventional metal building system; and
• An inflatable air structure with tension cables.

The steel fabric structure (SFS) and the metal building are permanent facilities. The inflatable air structure was a temporary proposal. A cost analysis was also conducted for each building and program combination.

University officials collaborated with ms architects in selecting a preferred site (Elm Street at Eastbound Service Road) and a building type (a conventional metal facility), and worked with the project team on final design details. Design development, contract documents, specifications, and bidding assistance were provided by the team for the architectural, electrical and structural elements of the building with assistance of team mates CJL Engineering for mechanical/electrical/plumbing design and Resource International for site civil engineering. 

Sustainable Design

The design team worked with LEED® Certification as a goal. The project addresses sustainable site design through the use of reflective paving surfaces in the limited parking area and reflective roof material to limit heat island effects on the building and surrounding campus area.  The proposed building is anticipated have an energy consumption savings of 22% annually. The facility reduces water consumption by 44% through efficient water fixtures and regional plant materials that eliminate the need for irrigation. Construction waste was recycled and diverted from local landfills. The building utilizes recycled materials sourced from regional manufacturers within a 500 mile radius, and the interior envelope utilizes low emitting finishes to improve the indoor air quality for building occupants. Finally, the site is located on multiple public transportation routes and accessible to basic community services that encourage a pedestrian friendly destination.

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