Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Athletic Complex
Landscape Architecture, Site Design | Wisconsin | Back
Challenge
When MSOE dreamed of a state-of-the-art athletic facility, Drs. Robert and Patricia Kern met the challenge by providing funds to acquire the land for the facility as well as the construction costs.
At that time, there were no decisions about what kind of multi-purpose year-round facility could be developed or solutions for meeting the parking demands of a facility located in a downtown urban area.
Solution
Pamela and Hermann Viets Field is an NCAA Division III competition field. It is used for men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse and for rugby and outdoor practice space for other teams on campus. The field is built on top of a 780-car parking complex and is the first all-LED lit competition field in the United States.
Artificial turf, perimeter netting, and field lighting incorporated onto the top deck of the structure provide a new competitive experience for both home and visitors. On the ground plan, proposed retail shops open onto an expansive green space.
Underground stormwater detention facilities manage runoff from the field, building, and park. Extensive coordination with the architect and the City of Milwaukee was required to accommodate varying elevations at each building face. Numerous public utilities, including a 48-inch main interceptor sewer, were relocated as part of this project.
Services Provided
- Field survey
- Site design
- Landscape architecture
- Plantings
- Hardscapes
- Decorative concrete
- Lighting
Industries Covered
Site Design
Landscape Architecture
Results
The new MSOE Athletic Complex and Pocket Park brings new meaning to the terms green roof and sustainable infrastructure. By redeveloping an urban eyesore; a vacant gravel parking lot near its downtown campus, MSOE created secure parking for its staff, students, and faculty, natural green space for the public, and a state-of-the-art athletic field for its soccer and lacrosse teams.
