Populous Selected to Design New Cubs Spring Training Facility

May 27, 2011

The City of Mesa announced today it has selected Populous to design a new Chicago Cubs spring training and western headquarters facility.

“This is an exciting and important project for the City and the Cubs and we are confident that the selection committee has made the best choice for all involved,” said Mesa City Manager Chris Brady.

Populous brings the most extensive national ballpark portfolio to the project, having designed nearly 120 new ballparks and 22 spring training ballparks across the country. This project extends the firm’s 22-year relationship with the Cubs, having designed renovations to both Wrigley Field and the Cubs’ existing spring training facility, Hohokam Stadium. Populous has partnered with multiple Mesa-area design firms such as DWL Architects, EPS Group and Saemisch DiBella Architects to ensure a local flavor.

Our collective approach to this project is based on our team’s experience through the years – designing ballparks, living and working in the city of Mesa, working with the Cubs and creating destinations and memories,” Populous principal David Bower said. “To us, this project is more than design. It’s creating connected moments through the culture of the game, the spirit of the people and the emotion of the day.”

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said the focus is on building a destination that would give fans a unique experience, combining Cactus League baseball with other attractions at Wrigleyville West, a privately-financed commercial development located nearby. In addition to the 15,000 capacity ballpark, Wrigleyville West’s attractions are expected to include restaurants, stores and a Cactus League museum that would include a Cubs’ component. The Cubs will develop Wrigleyville West.

Smith said Wrigleyville will develop over several years but that having designers on board is critical to identifying its features. Detailed plans for the entire site should become public in the next few months.

The idea is we’re not going to build a stadium that’s spectacular,” Smith said. “We’re going to build an experience that’s spectacular.”

The City of Mesa also announced today that Hunt Construction was selected as the construction manager at risk for the $99 million project. The Populous and Hunt teams will begin work in the coming weeks and the ballpark is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014.

For further information please contact:
Gina Stingley at Populous
Telephone: 816 221 1500
Email media@populous.com

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