The leadership of the North Shore School District, community leaders and BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers celebrated the official opening of the new athletic field, running track and supporting facilities. The district encompasses a high school, middle school and three elementary schools. BBS served the district as architect and engineer for the project. Savin Engineers provided construction management services.
The North Shore School District is the home to some of the most prominent varsity athletes in New York State, including the North Shore Women's Cross Country Team, a two time defending New York State Class A Champion. The combined Women's Cross Country, Winter Track and Spring Track teams have won a combined nine consecutive Nassau County Championships.
Dr. Ed Melnick, Superintendent of the North Shore School District, said: "We are delighted with our new track and stadium field, and look forward to supporting our students' athletic development for years come. I would like to thank the entire design and construction team, in particular BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, for their dedication, creativity and hard work in ensuring the successful completion of the district's new sports facilities."
"The new, $3.8 million, 100,000 s/f sports complex replaced and expanded the deteriorated facilities which were insufficient for the needs of the district's 2,850 students," said BBS director of architecture Joseph Rettig, AIA, LEED AP. "The new complex includes a multi-use, synthetic turf field; an eight-lane running track; and a 1,700 s/f concession, bathroom and storage building."
The creative financing for the project included a combination of the district's, private/not-for-profit and other public sources.
According to the North Shore School District assistant superintendent for Business, Olivia Buatsi, "The design and construction of the new field and track were financed through funds raised by the Viking Foundation, the district's capital reserve, a budgetary appropriation and a grant provided by New York State's senator Carl Marcellino and assembly member Chuck Lavine. The Viking foundation developed a fundraising program to replenish $1.5 million of the $3.1 million provided to the project from the district's capital reserve. The remainder of the funds came from the budgetary appropriation and a $105,000 grant secured by Messrs. Marcellino and Lavine."
This public/private combination of funding sources was unusual for a school-related construction project, but made financing easier at the time when local property tax increases in New York State are capped at 2%. The support of the Viking Foundation allowed the district to utilize funds raised through direct taxation to maintain the necessary level of instructional activities, while still making the construction of the new field and track possible.
The Viking Foundation is a (501)(c)(3) non-profit organization, established by members of the community to raise funds for the sole purpose of maintaining and enriching the educational environment in the North Shore District. The foundation, which has a continuing fundraising program, is also an unusual source of funds for the district's athletic, arts and technology programs.
The new field supports athletic activities, including football, girls and boys lacrosse, and field hockey. The eight-lane track replaced the deteriorated six-lane one. The new Field Turf Prestige Monofilament Xm-65 synthetic track and field surfaces will minimize the maintenance cost. The synthetic grass system consists of the 2½-inch-long, 8,000 denier (linear density), low-friction true monofilament, extruded spined fiber, tufted to a double primary porous backing and a porous secondary backing.
The BBS team faced several engineering challenges, including the requirement to protect a neighboring wetland recharge basin and a poorly draining fill and soil at the site of the new field.
BBS developed solutions that corrected the soil condition and protected the nearby basin. "The new field features a subsurface drainage and a water detention system that prevents storm run-off from entering the wetland," explained Rettig. "The drainage system consists of a permeable stone base beneath the synthetic turf surface and a perforated pipe network that directs rain water to the underground, plastic detention chambers."
The storm water management system utilizes Stormtech SC-740 drainage chambers. The system is designed for detention of 30,000cf of water using six inches of stone at 40% porosity.
The complex also includes a new, one-story, multi-purpose building that serves as the main entry port to the athletic facilities. The building consists of two structures connected by a pitched steel truss roof with gray asphalt shingles and a reverse gable. The entryway between the buildings is protected by a decorative iron gate. The entire athletic facility received a new security system.

Headquartered in Patchogue, NY and established in 1975, BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers is a leading Long Island and NY/NJ/CT Tri-state area designer of sustainable educational, commercial, institutional, public and athletic facilities. The firm designed the first LEED-certified public school in New York State ­- the Hampton Bays Middle School in Hampton Bays, NY - which received LEED Silver certification as well as the 2012 Green Ribbon School designation from the White House as one of the most environmentally responsible schools in the nation. Over the last decade, BBS has designed educational facilities valued at $1.6 billion. The firm's services include architecture, interior design and landscape architecture as well as civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering. Tags: