Outdoor Recreation Sports Complex

Upland Design led the master planning process along with the development of construction documents for the $6.5 million renovation and expansion of outdoor intramural recreation facilities at the Northern Illinois University Campus in DeKalb, Illinois.

The project began as a 19 acre expansion to the existing 20 acres of existing fields.  The facility is the central outdoor intramural space for the 24,000 students on campus.  To meet the needs of the diverse population, each field area is designed for many sports including lacrosse, soccer, flag football, disc golf, baseball, softball, quidditch and rugby.  Lighted artificial turf playing surfaces are at the core of the site so that scheduling can both meet the student’s scheduling needs and serve as a place for summer camps and special events. Irrigated natural grass fields compliment the turf areas.

Accessible paved walks were incorporated throughout the site. Additional amenities include pedestrian and sports lighting, field drainage, shaded meeting areas, fencing, site furniture, site access control and a support building with restrooms, meeting space and storage.  A number of stone walls and columns were detailed to mimic the designs found throughout campus.