Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Athletic Field and New Entry

Bethesda, Maryland

Firm

Winstanley Architects & Planners

Client

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

Area

231,060 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$6,000,000

Completion Date

01/2015

Design team
Michael Winstanley (Design Principal), George Eisenberger (Project Manager), Leejung Hong (Project Architect), Parker Rodriguez Inc. (Landscape Architect), Soltesz (Civil), Holbert Apple Associates (Structural), Alphatec P.C. (MEP), HLB Lighting (Lighting), Irrigation Research & Design (Irrigation)

The multipurpose field, designed to host soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and general recreation for 750 girls in kindergarten through 12th grades, was the first project stemming from a comprehensive master plan to modernize the campus.
Situating the field on a hilly site necessiated an enormous amount of earthwork; gravity walls were used as retaining walls all around the field. This provided an opportunity to urbanize the campus and create sloped and tiered stone walls to negotiate the big elevation changes. Supporting the field are bleachers for 200 spectators, bathrooms, storage and a concession stand.
Construction of the new field included a new campus entrance and the extension of an existing loop road, which both set the aesthetic palette for planned additional improvements.
Bio-retention areas throughout the facility mitigate runoff from the synthetic turf. Other sustainable considerations included the specification of a cork-based artificial turf for the health of the athletes, installation of weather sensors and an efficient irrigation system.