CarMax Park – Richmond Flying Squirrels New stadium
Richmond, Va.
Merit Award
Sent by: Gilbane Building Co.
Owner: Navigators Baseball/Richmond Flying Squirrels
Main design company: LaBella Associates DPC
Construction Manager: Gilbane Building Co. in partnership with Prestige Construction
Civil Engineer: Kimley-Horn Associates Inc.
Architects: KEI Architects; Ballpark Design Architects
Owner’s representative: Group of Machetes
Subcontractors: Donley’s Concrete Group; Steel Liphart; Roofing services; BMF (Eastern Corp.); Rock Spring Hiring; Johnson Flooring Inc.; Sportsfield Specialties Inc.; FARMHOUSE; Chewning & Wilmer Inc.; EMC Mechanical Services
As the centerpiece of the redevelopment of Richmond’s 67-acre Diamond District, the stadium combines elements of the city’s rich history with modern architecture and amenities. The year-round venue is capable of hosting a wide variety of events and meetings, with over 6,000 square meters of flexible indoor area and nearly 200 outdoor seats. A climate-controlled lounge offers panoramic views of the countryside and is available for a variety of events, while family zones and social gathering spaces make it a dynamic and inclusive community hub.
Because the stadium was surrounded by future private development sites with separate ownership and design teams, infrastructure and sequencing interdependencies required close coordination to protect schedule, quality and safety. Early investigations identified groundwater issues, existing utilities and constraints related to an adjacent railroad. Through specific design adjustments and coordinated decisions, the team eliminated the need for a pumped dewatering system, avoided right-of-way encroachment, and optimized grade without affecting the critical path.
