In 2007, the Town of Cary completed construction of the 20-acre USA Baseball National Training Complex (NTC), located within the 221 acre Thomas Brooks Park in west Cary. The USA Baseball National Training Complex consists of four lighted baseball fields – a stadium field (Coleman Field) and three training fields – all with dimensions of 330 feet down the lines and 400 feet in center field. All fields are maintained to Major League Baseball standards.

In October 2011, the Town approved an inter-local agreement with Wake County that provided for $10 million in inter-local funding, with a funding commitment on the part of Cary to provide equal to or exceeding an additional $10 million for a total of $20 million. The projects to be funded with inter-local funding are:

• WakeMed Soccer Park: $9.1 million
• USA Baseball National Training Center: $6.5 million
• Cary Tennis Park: $4.5 million

Total Project Funding: $20.1 million

See Project Location Map.

USA Baseball National Training Complex’s main entrance includes a landscaped plaza, ticketing structures, and recently renovated 1,200 sq. ft. merchandising facility. Adjacent to the main entrance is the signature Coleman Field that provides canopied seating for 1,754 with additional grass seating for approximately 1,800 people. Additional amenities include large restrooms and concessions that serve the entire complex, a two-suite press box, official scorer’s room, a sound room, and press row. A central, landscaped plaza and three training fields are located directly behind Coleman Field, each with individual scorekeeper/announcer shelters, and spectator seating for 120 people. There are approximately 600 vehicle parking spaces for the National Training Center complex with additional road access connecting to additional Thomas Brooks Park facilities.

During the initial design of the USA Baseball Complex in 2005, a need for a new training facility was identified, however, prior facility programming and cost estimates proved to be infeasible.

With approved inter-local and capital project funding totaling $10.45M, the 40,000 sq. ft. USA Baseball NTC Expansion project will be designed and constructed between Coleman Field and the complex parking lot. The facility design will include a approximately 22,000 sf, covered full-sized infield that can be converted into eight pitching/batting lanes, 14,000 sf office & warehouse space, with the remaining 5,000 sf to include new Cary staff offices, a classroom, restrooms, showers and other facility support spaces.

See the New Facility Design Rendering.

Sustainability

To be considered as a green or sustainable building, it must demonstrate efficiencies and reductions in site development, energy and water usage, long-term maintenance, and carbon emissions. Most importantly, green buildings create healthier indoor spaces for people to occupy. The USA Baseball Facility Expansion design implements many of these efficiencies and reductions that demonstrate Cary's stewardship for the environment. Some examples include:

• Energy Performance: Building design is 14% better than national standards, 301 photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roof to offset 46% of the facility's energy demand.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations: 50 of the 600 existing parking spaces will be converted to future EY charging stations.
• Water Conservation: Site development and plumbing design will reduce an estimated 35% water usage for the facility.
• Stormwater Quality: Retainage improvements will control stormwater downstream flow from extreme weather conditions to existing natural and wetland areas.
• Construction Waste: Awarded contractor will divert an estimated 75% by weight of total construction and demolition waste materials generated onsite.

Although a sustainable certification was not sought for this project, here is a link to the Sustainable Requirements Specification that defined the design team's goals to build the most efficient and healthy facility possible.

Project Cost

Construction cost for the new training facility project is estimated at $10.45 million.

Reid Saunders, AIA
Project Manager
(919) 380-2785
reid.saunders@carync.gov