NCAA Division I Synthetic Turf Baseball

Saint Joseph’s University installed the first NCAA Division I synthetic turf baseball and softball stadiums, in Pennsylvania, on their campus in 2012. Architerra coordinated the detailed design, bidding, and construction administration for the construction of Smithson Field, the synthetic turf baseball field, as well as, two additional Division I synthetic turf fields for the sports of softball and field hockey.

Smithson Field is nearly 100% synthetic turf with the exception of a clay pitcher’s mound. Architerra customized a number of construction details for this project to enhance student athlete safety and sports surface sustainability.

Architerra specified several different types of turf to mimic the varying surface qualities experienced during the game of baseball on a natural grass/infield mix venue. This surface variation is vital to the safety of athletes, as it is common for baseball players to direct their vision upward at flying balls, relying on surface changes underfoot for locational awareness. For example, the warning track in the outfield features a “lava rock” infill rather than the typical rubber and sand infill mix within the turf.