Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Crusader Stadium

  • 10/01/13
Crusader Stadium 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX, an NCAA Division III institution, initially explored the addition of an oncampus football stadium as part of a 2011 campus master plan. Since the program began in 1998 they have played at a local high school field. With the ultimate goal of transforming the student-life experience and unifying campus, the university began working with Populous to design an experience that would set a new standard for the collegiate football experience in Division III athletics. The 7,671-seat stadium, which opened on September 21, 2013, is the most integrated expression of student life and athletics in collegiate sports to date, with a new student union building designed in tandem to serve as the backdrop for the east side of the stadium. The design team and leadership from the university were determined to create a facility that went beyond football to provide an experience that would substantially impact the day-to-day experience of all students, not just athletes.

Crusader Stadium has become the new center of a “student activity zone” on campus. The facility will be open to students at all times and on-campus events, from movie nights to speakers to commencement, will be hosted once again at Mary Hardin-Baylor. In addition, the incorporation of a unique blend of premium seating options and amenities tailored to Crusader fans ensures that the stadium will remain viable and become a true community asset for Belton.

In addition to serving as a crucial component to recruiting elite talent and developing a top NCAA Division III football program, the stadium is also drawing attention from prospective students. By skillfully merging student life and athletics, Crusader Stadium provides the university with something they’ve never had before — a true home-field advantage.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management October 2013 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).