Metallic Building Company, a leading division of NCI Building Systems, has worked on baseball stadiums, such as the Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Massachusetts. The company has added the completed development of a minor league baseball stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire, to its portfolio of projects.
The $21-million New Hampshire Stadium is home to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The three-level stadium seats 6,500 spectators and encompasses 115,000 square feet of building area, including a 55,000-square-foot concourse and a 29,000-square-foot third-story level supporting 32 luxury suites and press boxes. The state-of-the-art facility and playing field is situated along the banks of the Merrimack River, and is part of a collective downtown development project encompassing the new ballpark, a hotel and luxury accommodations.
Many companies contributed to the design and construction of the minor league baseball stadium. HNTB Sports Architecture of Kansas City, Missouri, served as the project architect. Payton Construction of Boston, Massachusetts, was the designated design-build general contractor, with a team including Timothy Rielly, Chief Estimator, and Joseph Sheehan, Lead Project Executive. Payton once again selected Barnes Buildings and Management Group, Inc., of Weymouth, Massachusetts, a leading authorized builder of Metallic Building Company, to supply and install a fully customized steel system for the project.
Payton’s decision to select Barnes and Metallic was based on the companies’ previous working relationship and success in constructing the Brockton Stadium. All parties contend that it was the ability of Metallic’s design and drafting teams to produce a customized, cost-effective solution that ultimately closed the transaction on budget. A few of the products and aesthetic features that were provided include two structural galvanized 100-foot elevation light support towers, multiple wall color combinations, architectural standing seam roof systems, interior metal liner panels and multiple roof conditions, including step, hip and valley.
Utilizing a unique hybrid design resulted in reduced steel framing costs. Because this particular stadium was twice as big as the Brockton one, it was a challenge to customize a structural design that took increased steel demands into account without compromising the client’s budget. Fortunately, the project team was able to employ an efficient plate design to minimize the necessary exposure to escalating steel prices.
After less than one year under construction, the stadium opened to an enthusiastic audience exactly 11 months to the day of the groundbreaking ceremony.
Key members of the Metallic Northeast sales team that facilitated the stadium project included Regional Manager Ken Bandilla, Assistant Sales Service Manager Michele Brown, Sales Service Manager Richard Fucik, and District Manager Jeff Mullaney.
Since its opening, the stadium has received excellent reviews from both the Fisher Cats team and its many fans.
"We are thrilled to be playing in our new home that represents the city of Manchester and state of New Hampshire so well,” said Shawn Smith, General Manager of the Fisher Cats. “The completion of this project is a huge step forward for the future of baseball in New Hampshire. We look forward to being a part of the community in this facility for many years to come."