If you’re looking to design a sports complex, there are a few critical factors you’ll need to take into consideration. What types of sports will your facility host? Who will be using your facility on a regular basis? And what little details will help your facility stand out from the rest?
All of these factors will impact your design decisions. This is why it’s important to learn about sports complex architecture and how to create a quality venue that people will want to use. Below are some tips for creating an effective sports field design.
Determine What Activities Your Sports Complex Will Host
What sports and activities will your sports field host? Since each sport requires a different field or court, you’ll need to make sure that your facility can provide the proper accommodations. For instance, basketball games need special wooden flooring, while football fields require fully painted end zones. These fields will also come in different sizes depending on the sport and the age of the players.
In addition to making sure that you have adequate space for your fields, you’ll also want to consider the amenities you’ll need. Locker rooms give athletes a place to store their belongings and bathrooms are necessary for both athletes and visitors. You might even want to consider adding a pool or wellness center for training and relaxing.
Consider the Needs of Visitors and Spectators
To give everyone – players, spectators and members – the best experience, you’ll want to make sure that you have the following:
- Comfortable seating. Your options for spectator seating include bleachers, grandstands, dugouts and players benches. You can even customize your seating with various types of decking, guardrails and handrails.
- Generous shade. Sitting underneath a hot sun all day is uncomfortable. But since sports often continue in inclement weather, you’ll want to provide adequate shade. You can accomplish this by utilizing nearby trees and installing shade structures, such as cantilever shades, sail shades and canopies.
- Press boxes. Grandstand press boxes are set up for journalists, media, etc. to report on a given event. CR Studio Design offers grandstand press boxes that can be upgraded to have security shutters and camera decks.
Additional Amenities: Turf, Lighting, Scoreboards, Shade and Parking
As for the details, there are some decisions you’ll have to make based on your budget and overall vision. For example, do you prefer your fields to have turf or natural grass? Field turf is soft and mimics natural grass, but there’s no mowing or irrigation required. It’s a top choice for athletic fields.
Lighting is another important consideration, as you don’t want to call games early because of the dark. If you’re planning on building an outdoor field, make sure you have reliable, long lasting LED lights to illuminate your space. Your score board is also something to pick wisely – ask CR Studio Design about our numeric LED scoreboards and LED video displays.
Shade is another important amenity at a sports or athletic complex. The heat and the sun’s harmful UV rays can be dreadful to endure at all day sporting events. Fabric shade structures keep spectators, parents and young children out of the sun, preventing sunburn and overheating.
And finally, consider parking and how you can make it most convenient for visitors. If people can’t find parking, they can’t access your facilities. Remember that your facility will host large events at times, so you need adequate parking that is close to your fields. Generally speaking, it’s recommended to have at least 50-100 parking spaces for each field.
Start Planning Your Sports Field Design
If you’re ready to start planning the design for your sports complex, contact CR Studio Design today. We have a number of options that will help you create the perfect playing field. We also have plenty of amenities to bring your vision to life, including scoreboards, lighting, turf fields and sports courts. Get the ball rolling today!