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

  • Texas A&M Breaks Ground on Campus Visitor Center

    Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new campus learning hub and visitor center, according to a news release. The 211,000-square-foot Aplin Center will stand three stories and is scheduled to open to students in 2028.

  • Longwood University Selects Builder for $73M Performing Arts Center

    Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently announced that it has selected Swedish construction company Skanska as the builder of its new performing arts center, according to online news. The project involves the demolition of the current building and constructing a new, 64,500-square-foot facility.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

  • Anderson Brulé Architects Rebrands as ABA Studios

    Anderson Brulé Architects, based in San Jose, Calif., recently announced that it is celebrating 40 years of service by rebranding under a new name, according to a news release. The architectural, interior design, and planning firm will now be known as ABA Studios to refresh its identity underneath a new generation of leadership.

Digital Edition