A sports and entertainment facility in Southwest Connecticut may have patrons wondering, "Is this an old-fashioned baseball park, or a modern-day place to practice my home run prowess?" That's because All-Star Batting Range is a prime example of how truly non-traditional a metal building can be.
Located in Brookfield, Conn., the Ceco Building Systems facility sports an exterior reminiscent of an old-fashioned baseball park, according to Pat Cleary, president of Pre-Engineered Building Concepts, which handled the design/build project. Pre-Engineered Building Concepts has been a Ceco builder since 1987.
"Ceco stands ready to work with builders on a variety of buildings, especially the most unique ones," commented Ceco President Roger Burlingame. "After all, our philosophy is 'non-standard is standard.'"
Cleary explained that the in-house design team wanted to create the look and feel of an old ballpark, so they replicated the frieze that lined the roof of the original Yankee Stadium from 1923 through 1973.
All-Star Batting Range is a 100’ clear span width building with an eave height of 28’, along with a 60’ single slope expansion with 28’ eave height. Ceco products used were CXP 24-gauge, standing seam roof panels.
The frieze was constructed from full-scale drawings prepared by Kevin Kenney of Pre-Engineered Building Concepts. With these drawings, an Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS), was installed in multiple layers and colors over a 24-gauge, Galvalume® steel panel utilizing the Ceco 'R' profile in reverse fashion. This panel, in conjunction with horizontal girt members located on approximately 2'-6" centers, created a substantial 'backer' or underlayment to receive the installation of the EIFS material. The masonry finish along the bottom portion of the building structure was constructed utilizing a similar system but formed with a template in the shape and color of 'used bricks'.
According to Cleary, another interesting aspect of the project included the installation of an indoor batting cage. While not unusual in itself, this cage was constructed flush with the perimeter floor area versus raised on a platform. This was achieved by use of a multi-sloped concrete floor pitched to an underground ball retrieval unit. This unit then propels the balls with the aid of a series of intricate piping work to redeposit the balls by gravity to the appropriate pitching machine.
About Pre-Engineered Building Concepts, Inc.
Pre-Engineered Building Concepts, Inc. is a design-build contracting firm incorporated in 1983. The company specializes in the construction of metal buildings in the commercial, industrial, recreational and retail sectors. For more information, visit www.pbcsteel.com.