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Purdue logoArchitects draw up new face for Boiler baseball

Feb 26, 2008 / Executive Reporter / Brian Petraits

In a matter of a couple of years, students will be able to spend their Saturday evenings watching a Purdue baseball game under the lights in a new, state-of-the-art facility.

Earlier this month, the Purdue Board of Trustees approved $15 million to begin the process for a new baseball park.

"The stadium and facility is kind of the book cover to your program," Purdue baseball coach Doug Schreiber said. "It doesn't tell everything about you, but it does attract people. If the cover is shiny, it tells people to pick it up and take a look at you and see what is inside."

The stadium, which will seat anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 fans depending on the event, is in the process of being drawn by architects and will soon be put out for construction bids.

Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons Ltd., of Jackson, Miss., is the architectural firm for the project. The project, which will include improvements to the soccer facility, will not be funded by tax dollars.

In addition to lights and the renovations to the soccer complex, the stadium will house a locker room, meeting facilities, an expanded radio and television box and a new scoreboard. According to Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke, the stadium could have a design that features a combination of precast concrete and red brick.

"This is a continuation of the University to populate the soccer and tennis site on the northwest side of campus; some of the athletic venues will migrate to that area of campus," Burke said. "I want this stadium to look good. I want a stadium feel to it, and from the road it needs to be aesthetically pleasing."

Lambert Field, the current home of the Boilers, has been around since 1965. With renovations and new stadiums being constructed at Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State, it was time for Purdue to keep up with the upper-half of the conference as it relates to facilities. Although a new playing surface was installed in 2005, there are no lights and there are both parking and seating issues at the field.

"I think (the new facility) will bring a lot more prestige to this program," said pre-season All-America candidate and Purdue first baseman Ryne White. "It will put us on the map. Kids are going to say why not stay at home instead of flocking to the south."

Burke has not set a timeline for the project, but a late 2009 or early 2010 completion is not out of the question.