The Cannon Proposal
The following was a project done by Cannon
Architecture Engineering Planning Interior Design in July of
1994. The project won a regional AIA Design Award in 1995.
In a letter to our organization Webb Nichols stated that
"The essence of the proposal develops a strong case for the
legitimacy of rebuilding Fenway Park in Place. The project,
while more costly and requiring more time in construction,
achieved all the goals of the Boston Red Sox. In fact, the
completely rebuilt park becomes more intimate, leaves the
configuration of the field unchanged, eliminates spectator
cross aisles, and provides for a continuous underground
service concourse....The project, like the rebuilding of St.
Peters in Rome, would have married the best of history with
modern technology, a unique, historic, and truly
praiseworthy achievement." Please take a look over some of
the specifics and several images
from the proposal.
Fenway Park Reconstruction
Boston, Massachusetts
Design
Solution
The challenge in reconstructing Fenway Park was to
demonstrate that it is possible, within the limits of the
existing site, to accommodate an entirely new ballpark which
provides 9,000 additional seats (for a total of 44,000), 40
additional luxury boxes (for a total of 80), and all the
amenities of a contemporary stadium facility. It was also
necessary to demonstrate how phased construction can allow
the uninterrupted use of the park with minimal inconvenience
to the public and staff for the duration of work.
The project was developed with the principal goal of
preserving those qualities that make Fenway Park arguably
the best and, without a doubt, the most distinctive major
league ballpark in the country, while improving those
aspects of the stadium that are found to be lacking. The
playing field with all its quirks (chief among them, the
left-field wall) is preserved without modification. The
geometry, position, and rake of the main deck of seating are
retained, thereby maintaining the close proximity of the
spectator to the field of play. The existing vocabulary of a
steel frame structure within a masonry shell is employed for
the new construction in order to sustain the quality of
space associated with Fenway. The principal change visible
in the stands (and from outside) is the addition of an upper
deck on two sides of the park. Other changes include more
comfortable seating, improved entry and circulation spaces,
adequate toilet and concession facilities on a new public
concourse, relocation of columns that obstruct views,
elimination of "cross aisles" in the lower deck, relocation
of the stadium club, and provision of a separate service
level to better accommodate support functions.
The following elements are critical to the success of
the project:
1. Seating configuration/sight lines (wider seats,
more knee room, relocation of columns)
2. Circulation in seating areas (employment of
vornitories with aisles perpendicular to field)
3. Character of space
4. Concourse circulation
5. Entry conditions
6. Vertical circulation elements
7. Concession and toilet facilities
8. Service accommodations
The reconfiguration and extension of the luxury boxes and
upper deck add to the sense of enclosure and intimacy which
already exists at Fenway. Comparison of both the existing
Fenway Park and the proposed reconstruction design with the
new Comiskey Park (Chicago), Camden Yards (Baltimore), and
Jacobs Field (Cleveland), indicate the proposed design will
have as good or better sight lines and access. Phased
construction may be reduced to three years through staged
site preparatibmand prefabrication.
A/E Services
Submitting firm provided preliminary design study,
structural and mechanical analysis, cost estimating,
architectural and engineering design, and construction
scheduling.
Client
Private Owner
Completion
Date
Final Phase: March 2000
Construction
Cost:
$170 Million
$3,000/seat (pro-rated to 1999 cost)
Cost/SF not applicable
Project Features
- 44,000 Seats
- 80 Luxury Boxes
- Full Truck Accessibility to Lower Concourse
- Phase construction to allow uninterrupted use of the
ballpark
- No change in playing field configuration or site
footprint
- Shortened concession delivery distance
- Greater sense of enclosure and intimacy through
reconfiguration of luxury box seating and upper deck
Click on the
following to see some of the proposal
pictures:
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