New Synthetic Field Added to Athletics, Recreational & Intramural Facilities
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
A charitable gift from an anonymous athletics donor has covered the cost of installing new synthetic turf on a multipurpose field used for athletics, recreation and intramural activities.
Rose-Hulman has completed the latest upgrade to its campus facilities this summer with the installation of synthetic turf to a multipurpose field used for athletics, recreation, and intramural activities.
The project’s entire cost has been covered by a charitable gift to the Mission Driven Campaign for Rose-Hulman from an anonymous donor, who has been a longtime supporter of the institute’s athletics program.
“Thanks to the continued generosity from this specific donor, we’re thrilled to be able to add another valuable asset to our campus,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “Athletics, recreational sports, and intramurals are important elements to our student life and campus experiences, promoting and supporting overall student health and wellness. This new field, along with other facility enhancements, is further evidence of our donor’s commitments to assist us in meeting the growing needs of our students, by providing new state-of-the-art facilities that will generate long-term cost savings.”
The field, located in the northeast corner of campus, has had several uses throughout the college’s history. Its primary use in recent years has been hosting matches and practices for men’s and women’s varsity soccer teams, along with intramural and recreation events.
Excessive usage made it difficult to maintain a safe and usable natural surface for year-round practice, competition, and recreational use, according to Seth Woodason, director of recreational sports and athletic facilities.
“The synthetic field gives us a surface that can be used in any weather and any season,” Woodason said.
The field also will be used to host summer sports camps.
A shock pad was installed under the synthetic turf for added safety. Other improvements to the area include improved drainage, a new Bermuda grass field installed on an adjacent intramural field, and significant upgrades to the outdoor track and field complex for discus, shot put and hammer throwing events.
Construction began in late May 2020 and AstroTurf, the inventor and industry leader in synthetic turf fields, completed the installation of the new 450-foot long surface on August 14. The entire project was completed on August 18.
Rose-Hulman added a synthetic football field last year, in time for the 2019 season.
Athletic Director Jeff Jenkins says, “This field is another major addition to our athletic program and keeps us on the leading edge of athletic facilities in intercollegiate athletics. Our quality soccer programs have needed this upgrade for several years. This facility improvement continues to show our commitment to providing our student-athletes with the best environment for their success.”
Rose-Hulman’s men’s and women’s soccer teams have qualified for the NCAA Division III national tournament after capturing Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championships. The men’s team has made five postseason appearances, including three straight from 2013-15, and has won six conference regular-season titles. The women’s team captured its second HCAC tournament title in program history in 2019, finishing the season with a 15-4-1 record.
The project’s entire cost has been covered by a charitable gift to the Mission Driven Campaign for Rose-Hulman from an anonymous donor, who has been a longtime supporter of the institute’s athletics program.
“Thanks to the continued generosity from this specific donor, we’re thrilled to be able to add another valuable asset to our campus,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “Athletics, recreational sports, and intramurals are important elements to our student life and campus experiences, promoting and supporting overall student health and wellness. This new field, along with other facility enhancements, is further evidence of our donor’s commitments to assist us in meeting the growing needs of our students, by providing new state-of-the-art facilities that will generate long-term cost savings.”
The field, located in the northeast corner of campus, has had several uses throughout the college’s history. Its primary use in recent years has been hosting matches and practices for men’s and women’s varsity soccer teams, along with intramural and recreation events.
Excessive usage made it difficult to maintain a safe and usable natural surface for year-round practice, competition, and recreational use, according to Seth Woodason, director of recreational sports and athletic facilities.
“The synthetic field gives us a surface that can be used in any weather and any season,” Woodason said.
The field also will be used to host summer sports camps.
A shock pad was installed under the synthetic turf for added safety. Other improvements to the area include improved drainage, a new Bermuda grass field installed on an adjacent intramural field, and significant upgrades to the outdoor track and field complex for discus, shot put and hammer throwing events.
Construction began in late May 2020 and AstroTurf, the inventor and industry leader in synthetic turf fields, completed the installation of the new 450-foot long surface on August 14. The entire project was completed on August 18.
Rose-Hulman added a synthetic football field last year, in time for the 2019 season.
Athletic Director Jeff Jenkins says, “This field is another major addition to our athletic program and keeps us on the leading edge of athletic facilities in intercollegiate athletics. Our quality soccer programs have needed this upgrade for several years. This facility improvement continues to show our commitment to providing our student-athletes with the best environment for their success.”
Rose-Hulman’s men’s and women’s soccer teams have qualified for the NCAA Division III national tournament after capturing Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championships. The men’s team has made five postseason appearances, including three straight from 2013-15, and has won six conference regular-season titles. The women’s team captured its second HCAC tournament title in program history in 2019, finishing the season with a 15-4-1 record.