Add as a preferred source on Google

School Board Votes to Move Joint District/University Stadium Project Ahead

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 06/02/20

Last November, Des Moines-based Drake University and Des Moines Public Schools jointly unveiled plans to build a new $19.5 million athletic stadium in the middle of the city. The facility would host football and soccer for the district's 15 middle schools and high schools and serve as the home field for the university's "Bulldogs" soccer teams. The school system is applying $15 million in sales tax revenue budgeted for a stadium. Drake is donating the land to the district as well as $4.5 million for construction and will handle stadium management once the facility opens.

An illustration of the aerial view of the stadium.

Early plans for the "Des Moines Public Schools Community Stadium at Drake University" called for a seating capacity of 4,000 and the possible inclusion of a "bubble" that would enable the stadium to be used in winter months. The new venue will also include new locker rooms for home and visiting teams, a team store for both district high schools and Drake, multiple concession stands and restrooms, a press box and a playground.

The district made the decision to invest in a new stadium rather than upgrading its existing stadiums at each school because the construction project made "better use of school district and community resources" and would result in a facility that would be comparable "in quality to neighboring school districts." District estimates suggested that upgrading current stadiums to those standards would cost around $60 million. Existing playfields will still serve for practice and bringing feeder school programming to the campuses.

Recently, Des Moines' school board approved a resolution to continue work on the stadium. The board also established an athletic facility committee, peopled by staff, student and parent representatives and intended to provide "guidance and recommendations" on investments in athletic facilities to address needs over the next five years. The committee is expected to produce a report for the board by October.

"Our school district is home to thousands of students who participate in athletics, and we need to do more to make sure they have access to quality facilities while maximizing our limited resources in public education," said Kyrstin Delagardelle, chair of the school board, in a statement. "This process will enable the school board to get meaningful input from a wide range of stakeholders so we can make plans to best serve our students and community."

The current plan is for the facility to be completed and ready for use by the summer of 2021. However, construction hasn't begun yet.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • 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.

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • Photo courtesy of Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc.

    West Melbourne School for Science Completes Expansion Project

    The West Melbourne School for Science, which serves students grades PreK–6 in West Melbourne, Fla., recently completed a 12,450-square-foot elementary school expansion, according to a news release.

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

Digital Edition