Global design firm Populous, in association with Collins Cooper Carusi, completed Phase II of renovations at Georgia Tech’s recently renamed Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
To remain one of college baseball’s premier facilities, Mac Nease Baseball Park completed the $10 million second phase project with upgrades that will continue the legacy of Georgia Tech baseball for years to come by enhancing player development, improving the fan experience, and celebrating the Yellow Jacket’s rich baseball history.
Fans will be welcomed by a new entry plaza that will provide a space to socialize on gamedays, building 
excitement before the first pitch. A key component of the expansion project is Champions Hall, a two-story multi-purpose gathering space created on the expanded concourse, which celebrates the history of Georgia Tech Baseball, highlighting ACC Championships and trips to Omaha along with student-athlete accomplishments from years past. Champions Hall provide new premium chairback seating and a spacious event room that looks out onto the field during Yellow Jacket games. Champions Hall will also serve as a meeting space for the baseball team and an event space for other organizations and alumni gatherings. The second floor includes the Mark Teixeira Skyline Terrace, a premium seating area that will provide some of the best views in all of Atlanta sports, which features Tech’s campus and the Midtown skyline. A new home plate club and two outdoor suites are located behind home plate and offer additional premium options for fans. New concessions and restrooms have been provided on the new expanded left field plaza which features new drink rail areas overlooking the field.
“The completion of Phase II of the renovations at Russ Chandler Stadium will provide student-athletes access to cutting-edge training technology, like our pitching and hitting labs that are built around the latest motion capture camera and tracking systems to provide immediate analysis and feedback,” said Todd Stansbury, director of athletics at Georgia Tech. “Equally important is the expanded concourse and fan amenities. Fans are welcomed to Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium with a new entry plaza and will have access to a variety of seating options. Champions Hall honors past teams, student-athletes and coaches while providing some of the best views of the field and Midtown skyline from the Teixeira Skyline Terrace.”
The jewel of the Phase II renovation is the new state-of-the-art, climate-controlled elite training facility which will be used year-round by Georgia Tech student-athletes, as well as alumni and professional baseball players during the offseason. The new training includes a 2,000 SF pitching and hitting lab and 5,000 SF batting tunnel and is located under the concourse with connection to other team areas, as well as direct access to the playing field, allowing student-athletes to make the most of their time during practice. Featuring the latest technology, the pitching and hitting lab includes motion capture cameras, tracking systems and floor pressure plates which can record and analyze data for each player in real-time. This sophisticated motion analysis will evaluate and improve the efficiency of players in the lab, and thus improve their game on the field.
“From the beginning, we knew we wanted to incorporate the latest technology into the design of the training facility, so we spent a lot of time coordinating with vendors to make sure all of their products from motion analysis cameras to pressure plates would seamlessly integrate into the pitching mounds, synthetic turf and building structure and systems,” said Norman Friedman, principal and senior architect at Populous. “With these systems in place at the ballpark, coaches can offer immediate feedback on velocity, bat speed, and more to help their student-athletes train at the highest level.”
Georgia Tech’s Mac Nease Baseball Park is the latest collegiate ballpark from Populous, providing state-of-the-art training for student-athletes and a fresh fan experience. Other recently completed collegiate ballpark projects include Florida Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field, Dudy Noble Field and TD Ameritrade Park, home to the NCAA Division I Men’s College World Series.
