WICHITA 2030 | RELOCATION OF LAWRENCE DUMONT STADIUM & DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN
derek thome 3.16.2012
old town & south old town
arena & commerce st arts
riverfront & century II/waterwalk
delano
WICHITA 2030 | RELOCATION OF LAWRENCE DUMONT STADIUM & DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN
derek thome 3.16.2012
The stadium itself must not be a set piece. Rather the relocation of Wichita’s baseball stadium will serve as a catalyst for growth. This renewal looks to complete southern downtown between the Arena and Waterwalk by means of a “destination corridor” and through the articulation of the program to increase the walkability of this district. To accomplish these goals, a lengthy program must come to fruition as a holistic solution to occupying the barren landscape of southern downtown. This is satisfied through first facilitating the pedestrian experience. From the parking spot to the stadium seat, a progression must be marked by branding, invitation, ease of access, and a world class venue. Building a place that would make “Hap” (Dumont) happy, must improve upon the aspects of the current aging stadium. This starts with a visual tie to the city from the outside /in and the inside/out. Creating a connection to the context allows one to understand the effects of the stadium on the city. Navigating the city with master-plan suggestions, the stadium creates a pedestrian experience that is user friendly. In addition the “destination corridor” concentrates activity along Waterman Street. Outside the walls, the spectator will have marked exterior signs, landmarks and unique materials of the different districts. Identifying them will give clear separation and awareness to different parking and amenity zones, and become nodes to identify and concentrate growth. The pedestrian experience extends beyond the turnstiles. Upon entering the stadium a spectator will be greeted with wide concourses, views of the city, smells of fanfare favorites, and modern materials. In order for the stadium to become an integral thread in the weaving of a complete downtown, the stadium will serve as a catalyst to spur growth in order to tie all districts together. Here seven distinct parts of the program bring assistance to the permanent streetscape; the buildings, green space and roads. In total, seven spaces of the program will be open year-round to encourage pedestrians to visit this site, even when there is not a baseball game. Among these are a restaurant in the outfield, adjacent grass berm seating for outdoor concerts, a radio station and a corresponding interactive zone, team store and offices, and finally a hall of fame. The latter would be possibly the most important to explaining the reason behind Raymond “Hap” Dumont’s stake on Wichita’s baseball history. A National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame would serve as a part of the streetscape and could feature an “inductee walk” to connect both the Intrust Bank Arena and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (Waterwalk) and serve as a branding landmark. The entire program is ordered to facilitate the pedestrian experience through increased walkability, therefore providing incentive to occupy southern downtown. This would bring increased pedestrian traffic to the area through higher densities of adjacent residential structures, an increased draw for visitors, as well as developing commercial and office space. All of this can be centered at the new stadium which increases the viability of the “Sports District” by providing a more consistent attendance draw(home stands). Facilitating baseball on the selected site requires a few changes. Most notably rerouting the current traffic flow on Lewis Street, the southern edge of the stadium complex. This accomplishes two things. First and foremost it establishes a new boundary that allows the stadium to project into the existing view corridor of the street. Secondly, by narrowing it down to two lanes of traffic, it slows the already small amounts of traffic and encourages a more
derek thome 3.16.2012
pedestrian friendly flow of traffic to promote expansion of residential structures. Most importantly transferring the movement of the master plan to the stadium complex, the destination corridor sprouts two noticeably important stems. In extending the Sports District beyond the destination corridor, Broadway and Emporia take on a new significance in the approach to both venues. Emporia Street becomes the eastern gateway as it bisects the main components of the Sports District. Added to this it extends to the axis of the core of the Commerce Street Arts District; Lewis Street. Finally, it extends a walkable path to the two parking lots on South Emporia. Additionally Broadway also extends a stem to the axis of Waterwalk Place, the largest keystone of the Waterwalk Development. This stem which leads to home plate of the ballpark complex serves as the significant landmark presence. Not only does it serve as a landmark for people driving on downtown’s busiest street in Broadway but it also appeals to pedestrians who make their way from the three hotels south of Lewis Street and those who may park at and shop at Waterwalk. Both of these stems are at the service of not only the stadium complex, but also serve as connectors to the destination corridor. Permeating the stems of the destination corridor is the ballpark which invites the street in. The multiple street front spaces allow for retail and office space to be created, encouraging increased usage of the complex. However, the largest impact to the site occurs with the ballpark. With three main entries the ballpark allows the foot traffic to spill into and fill the site. One entry appeals to each of the three major destinations of the site. One at home plate, another at Broadway and Waterman, and the third at Waterman and Emporia. The first two provide corner piece entries as they appeal directly to the intersections they rest at. The third engages the spectator directly with the field upon entry. This entry becomes the core of year round uses that transitions the ballpark to the Commerce Street Arts District. Housing office and retail space, this outfield experience is home to a restaurant, interactive zone and residential as well. This mixed use becomes the gateway entry to the outfield berm seating which plays host to outdoor concerts in the summer, and sledding opportunities in the winter. Focused around the community the ballpark engages the spectators with not only the game but the city as a whole. Almost every seat in the house offers views of a Wichita landmark or district while two of the three main vertical circulations yield a connection with a different district. Hearkening back to the origins of the site, the nature of the complex looks to meld together the historic features of the site and a thirst for a new identity in south downtown originating with recent additions to the community in the Intrust Bank Arena and Finn Lofts. Rebuilding the urban edge of this site eliminates the vast wasteland of vacant lots in south downtown and encourages a more complete street front all along Waterman Street. New retail space, the National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame, a radio station, and restaurant are all contributions of the stadium complex. The ballpark has a chance to contribute more to the city than the current site, and be a catalyst for other sites in south downtown. Implementation of the new stadium projects Wichita into a position to be a viable downtown destination for not only a NCAA Men’s tournament first/second round bid; but for visitors year-round, national commercial entities looking for an affordable and vibrant downtown, conventions, and regional residents.
mngmnt & tickets & coaches & sales players umpires coaches & utility mrkting offices press
field & utility suites & above utilities additional concourse & spaces seating
ticket windows & adjoining assist gm/director of ticket operations office group sales manager office team store + other wichita team merchandise sales general manager office assist gm/corporate sales office special assistant to gm office director of finance office community relations/ merchandise office conference room head coach office hitting & bench coaches office pitching & bullpen coaches office restroom (2) custodial closet general storage umpire locker room,showers (2) & toilet coaches locker room, showers (2) & toilet weights and training office locker room home/away bathroom facilities home/away shower area home/away player lounge (home) pantry weight room bullpens with pitchers seating laundry room (home/away) & uniform storage restrooms mechanical and electrical television booth radio booths home/away press & public address supplies storage (2) “base-hit boxes” (loge seating) (6) “nutty-boxes” (10 seats) (4) luxury boxes (18 seats) custodial closet catering room men’s/women’s restrooms 5650 seats concession stands men’s restrooms (54 fixtures) women’s restrooms (118 fixtures) custodial closets restaurant with views to field 1410 kgso studios national baseball congress hall of fame interactive gaming zone outfield pedestrian street with space for inflatables
emporia st.
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downtown wichita site map
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site & context The site is located at the intersection of Broadway and Lewis streets in downtown Wichita, KS. In order to build the ballpark, two buildings would have to be demolished. A third, bordered by the gray dashed line is the Wichita Work-Release facility. The relocation of this building would provide an opportunity for them to expand their facility, as well as open up the site of the ballpark and create a direct relationship to the Intrust Bank Arena at the corner of Emporia and Waterman Sts. Finally, Topeka St. would have to be closed to allow for the ballpark to rest on a super-block. With the exception of the arena, the majority of building heights in this south downtown neighborhood are two stories in height. derek thome 3.16.2012
spectators & year-round use
television booth radio booth (home) radio booth (away) press & public address event staff/security supplies storage “base-hit boxes” (2) (loge boxes) “nutty-boxes” (6) (10 seats) “home-run” boxes (4) (18 seats) custodial closet catering room women’s restroom men’s restroom
450sf (225sf/bx) 1500sf (250sf/bx) 1500sf (375sf/bx) 80sf 200sf 150sf* 150sf*
5650 seats men’s restrooms (54 fixtures) women’s restrooms (118 fixtures) concession stands custodial closets first-aid station
2000sf 4900sf 2750sf 250sf 125sf
coaches & administrative offices
coaches, umpires, & players
national baseball congress hall of fame 1410 kgso studios interactive gaming zone restaurant with views to field pedestrian street (room for inflatables)
derek derekthome thome 3.16.2012
200sf 175sf 175sf 400sf 200sf 80sf
umpire locker room umpire showers (2) & toilet coaches locker room coaches showers (2) & toilet weights & training office
1200sf 2500sf 1000sf 4500sf
210sf 300sf 120sf
locker room home locker room away bathroom facilities home/away shower facilities home/away player lounge home pantry weight room
900sf 500sf 600sf (300sf/lr) 600sf (300sf/lr) 350sf 125sf 1500sf
bullpens home bullpen pitchers seating home bullpens away bullpen pitchers seating away laundry room home/away & uniform storage mechanical & electrical restrooms
1925sf 185sf 1925sf 185sf 550sf
ticket windows assistant general manager/ director of ticket operations office group sales manager office souvenir shop and storage (team store + other wichita teams)
750sf + 160sf (80sf/dugout) 180sf 125sf 125sf 1250sf
general manager office assistant general manager/ corporate sales office director of finance office community relations/merchandise office conference room work room kitchen space intern office space
150sf 125sf
head coach office hitting, bench, pitching coaches office restrooms (2) custodial closet general storage
175sf 250sf 160sf 100sf 150sf
125sf 150sf 350sf 100sf 100sf 300sf