The City of Mesa and the Chicago Cubs announced today the top rankings and selected firms for the master planning, programming, design, and construction consultant services for the new Chicago Cubs spring training and western headquarters facility as well as the general contractor for the project pending successful negotiations and contract agreements with the both companies. The top design firms in rank order were Populous, 360 Architecture Inc./Arrington Watkins Architects and HKS. Populous was selected as the top ranked design firm based upon the qualifications of both the firm and the team members designated for the project.
“We are excited to have had so many qualified and interested firms participate in the review process.” City Manager Chris Brady said. “This is an exciting and important project for the City and the Cubs and we are confident that the selection committee has made the best choice for all involved.”
Populous, formerly known as HOK Sport, located in Kansas City, Mo.,, has been involved in the design of 118 new ballparks which includes 22 major league spring training facilities. Some of their more recent projects include: Red Sox Spring Training Complex in Florida, Goodyear Spring Training Complex, Peoria Sports Complex, Surprise Recreation Campus, and Hohokam Stadium and Fitch Park Player Development Complex in Mesa.
Populous has teamed with several qualified local firms such as DWL Architects in Phoenix and the EPS Group in Mesa. EPS Group Inc., a civil engineering firm and Saemisch DiBella Architects will work with Populous on the new facility.
“Our approach to this project is based on our team’s collective experience through the years – designing ballparks, living and working in the city of Mesa, working with the Cubs and creating destinations and memories,” Populous principal David Bower said. “To us, this project is more than design. It’s creating connected moments through the culture of the game, the spirit of the people and the emotion of the day.”
The top firms in rank order for construction of the new facility to be built at Mesa Riverview Park were Hunt Construction Group (Hunt), Barton Malow, Mortenson Construction and Bernards/McCarthy a joint venture. Hunt was selected as the top ranked firm based upon the qualifications of both the firm and the team members designated for this project.
“With Hunt selected as the general contractor for the project, we believe we have a qualified and excellent team to build not only a quality spring training facility but one that will rank among the best of the best.” Brady said. “I am pleased that Hunt has developed a Local Business Participation Plan and a Local (Mesa) Subcontractor Participation Program to maximize local Mesa participation.”
Hunt, whose corporate headquarters are in Scottsdale, is ranked No, 1 in Sports by Engineering News-Record magazine. Hunt has built more than 150 structures throughout the state including four stadium and arena projects: Chase Field in Phoenix, US Airways Center in Phoenix, University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, and Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott. Since completing Chase Field in 1998, Hunt has completed more than 40 Sports Facilities including 13 Major League Baseball stadiums and six Spring Training/Minor League Facilities.
“We are thrilled to have been selected to build this new facility for the City of Mesa and the Chicago Cubs.” Hunt Vice President Robert Hart said. “With more than 30 years in this market and the dozens of sports facilities we have built, we bring experience, longevity and innovation to this project. Our focus will be as it always is, to deliver a quality product, on time and on budget.”
