Athletic & Field

Lewis Contractors completed a new turf athletic field on the Archbishop Curley High School campus. The project involved the construction of a new athletic field for the all-boys school in Baltimore. The new field was built with an eye toward enhancing the marketability of the school as well as the experience of its current student-athletes. The field is used for football, soccer, and lacrosse, and now aligns the school with other area institutions that offer top-notch athletic facilities.

The multipurpose, synthetic turf field was funded by donations made to the School through the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation—an organization which works to aid youth across the nation though sports-themed programming—who served as the contractual Owner for the duration of the project. The new field at Archbishop Curley comes as part of the Ripken Foundation’s continued giving campaign—paying forward to students in local Baltimore communities.

Since 2006, Lewis Contractors has partnered with The Cal Ripken Sr., Foundation in building youth development parks throughout Maryland and Washington D.C.

These multipurpose, synthetic turf, low-maintenance facilities are designed to provide a cohesive recreational and educational experience for children, particularly in at-risk communities. Following the completion of each field project, the parks are gifted to a youth-serving partner so local children have access, ownership, and pride for their park.

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation continues to have a presence at each field it partners in building to help build character and teach critical life lessons to at-risk young people living in America’s most distressed communities through sports-themed programs.

Phase III of this project involved an extension to an existing home plate stadium. New concrete bleachers were constructed, increasing the seating capacity by 1,400 seats. The work was completed on a very aggressive 8-week schedule, in the Fall of 2006. During this time, the facilities were actively used by youths participating in the Foundation’s programs—an extensive site safety and security plan was implemented to protect those near and on the jobsite.

Lewis Contractors also constructed the first two phases of this work separately in 2005, at a total cost of approximately $2.1 million. Work involved extensive site work and construction of a free standing spectator building at the field, featuring home plate seating and a press box level. The playing field was also used during construction of the first two phases.

Lewis Contractors served as Construction Manager for Columbia Association’s new Long Reach Tennis Club facility. This project involved the construction of a new prefabricated metal building which houses an indoor tennis pavilion, consisting of six (6) USTA standard size courts. The pavilion includes an area for spectators, storage and housekeeping areas, and male and female bathrooms/showers.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) selected Long Reach Tennis Club for the 37th annual USTA Facility Awards, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the US. To be considered for this award, the project must demonstrate excellence as it pertains to overall layout and adaptation to site, court surface and lighting, ease of maintenance, aesthetics, graphics, the use of signs and landscaping, and amenities such as seating for spectators, food services and social areas. The project was completed on schedule and within-budget, with a superior level of craftsmanship in both the exterior and interior finishes.

In addition to the Long Reach Tennis Club Project, Lewis is also a GC On-Call for the Columbia Association. Since 2013, Lewis has completed approximately half a million dollars worth in enhancements to CA’s facilities throughout Howard County. These projects have included the Horse Rink Renovation, the Hockey Rink Renovation, the Haven on the Lake Improvements, the Locust Park Egress Improvements, the Supreme Sports Club New Yoga Wall, Athletic Club Roof, and Overpass Repairs.

Lewis Contractors partnered with The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and the CSX Foundation in the construction of CSX Field at Baybrook Park, an athletic field which is now home to the Benjamin Franklin High School Bayhawks. The site incorporates a multipurpose, high school regulation-sized football/soccer field with fully synthetic turf. The field was developed to be utilized by both the high school and the surrounding community. This project was the 12th field to be completed by Lewis for the Ripken Foundation in the past ten years.

The existing fields has significant grades that had to be investigated during in preconstruction and handled in construction without incurring significant haul away costs for the Owner. In the case of the CSX field, Lewis was able to successfully cut and fill the grade to achieved a balanced site with no haul away necessary. This project was completed in May 2018.

This “outdoor classroom”, as described by Foundation CEO Steve Salem, was constructed by Lewis Contractors and is the newest of a dozen fields completed by the firm. It is now home to the James Mosher Little League program, America’s oldest continuously operating baseball program for African American youth. A plaque on the brick wall just outside the field itself memorializes the founders of the program for future generations to come.

Built to youth baseball standards, this latest synthetic surface field helps to provide recreational, educational and athletic experiences to Baltimore’s at risk, underserved youth. Gifted to Baltimore City Public Schools, and sponsored in large part as a legacy gift in honor of BG&E’s 200th anniversary, Eddie Murray Field at BGE Park was celebrated first by a bear hug between Cal Ripken, Jr. and Eddie Murray and later by players of the James Mosher Baseball Little League taking to the field for the first time. Both Hall of Famers mentioned that this field is of particular significance to the legacy of Cal Ripken Sr.’s dedication to youth and expressed their belief that the field will enhance West Baltimore beyond measure. Eddie Murray said, “I think these kids are going to have fun here…they’re going to play together and hopefully, just be kids.”

At the time of construction, the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation had built 74 such fields across the country—including 12 in Maryland and 9 in Baltimore. Lewis Contractors is proud to partner with the Foundation as we continue to construct these fields which bring together multiple generations for “America’s Greatest Pastime” and improve the neighborhoods in which they are built.

Lewis Contractors’ decade-long relationship with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation continues with the construction of a low maintenance synthetic turf baseball field on the grounds of Frederick Douglass High School In addition to the artificial turf baseball field, this project will include a new digital scoreboard, dugouts for the players, and bleachers for the fans.

Lewis Contractors has teamed with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation on nearly a dozen fields over the past ten years to complete installations for similar neighborhoods, including fields for Archbishop Curley High School, the Eddie Murray Field at James Mosher Elementary School, and the Babe Ruth Field at St. Agnes Hospital, among many others.

Lewis Contractors completed the construction of a grandstand at Gilman School—a kindergarten through 12th grade private independent day school for boys in Baltimore, MD—to consist of precast bleachers, a curved brick masonry faced wall , and a Trex deck. The majority of the project was constructed on an existing slope, with limited accessibility due to the close proximity of the occupied school building, an existing 50-year-old Zelkova tree, and an in-use grass sports field with a fall practice/game schedule.

The site was benched (cut out the earth) to create eight rows of seats and twenty-four stair treads on either side of the seating areas. The seating and stairs of the new grandstand consist of two forms of precast concrete, both of which are installed on helical piers. The seats themselves are precast concrete pieces weighing about 5,000 pounds each. Due to the location of the occupied field at the bottom of the site, each seat was maticulously set in place via a crane placed on a paved area above the grandstand. Additionally, behind each seat is an engineered drainage system of stone and filter cloth.

Once the installation of seating and stairs was completed—a process that took two full weeks—the benched slope was backfilled with earth and topped by sod. Of note, the entire system only became solid and immovable after the backfilling operation was completed—an innovative design that involved close coordination of subcontractors. From the playing field, the seating and steps rise up to an upper level brick façade radius retaining wall with cast stone caps and stainless steel guardrails. The wall supports an at-grade flush framed Trex deck built around a large Zelkova tree. Lastly, new brick pavers were laid and new asphalt paved in order to tie-in the existing brick path and blend the existing grades to the new Trex deck.

The Lewis Contractors’ team self-performed the bulk of this project which was completed on an accelerated schedule due to sports programming and was completed on time and on-budget.

This project started with the demolition of an extremely well built Boumi Temple, and included clearing existing parking lots. Major excavation and utility relocation took place with tremendous care and attention paid to close-by residential neighbors. The Fitness and Aquatics Center is a brick clad, concrete and steel structure with extensive use of aluminum curtainwall and masonry. The building has three separate structural grids for the Olympic pool and diving tank, two gyms, dance and aerobic studios, climbing wall, squash and racquetball courts, and smaller meeting areas. In addition to acres of new parking, this project involved the construction of a new soccer field.

This project can be best described as a wrap-around structure encompassing two existing gym buildings. The two-story Fitness Center, faced with aluminum curtainwall and glass, is a concrete and steel structure. The high-ceiling main entrance and fore-court feature intricate paving patterns and the use of stone and glass. The rear entrance, not as grand, also features stone and glass. A student meeting area and café tie the two entrances together. Also included are new roads, parking areas and landscaping. The project was constructed in the midst of a fully-occupied college campus—site safety and security were paramount.

This project was a cover feature and an “Outstanding Building” in the American School and University Magazine’s Architectural Portfolio.

This project involved the construction of a new youth park on the site of old Memorial Stadium. Lewis Contractors constructed new baseball and football fields, including a new backstop, dugouts, Astroturf/synthetic fields, retaining walls, fencing, etc. The new home plate location was placed on same spot as the historic home plate location at old Memorial Stadium. Construction took place at the center of an existing YMCA facility—the project site was entirely surrounded by playing fields which were actively occupied for youth programs. The close proximity of construction to occupied sites required constant attention to Lewis Contractors’ stringent safety program, as well as special coordination for deliveries, nuisance control (noise, dust, vibration, odors, etc.), and other jobsite activities.

Lewis Contractors served as Construction Manager for this new home to “Mercy Magic”. The new multi-purpose field hosts baseball and soccer games and, for the first time, allows the Magic teams to practice outside and play onsite regardless of weather. New bleacher seating provides comfortable accommodations for fans and a full refreshment stand is planned.

In her opening remarks at the ground breaking, Ms. Lennon shared with the gathered audience that the new field is “transformational and ambitious” and that her Magic athletic program continues to be “vibrant and competitive.” Magic Nation—as the alumnae, students, faculty and parents call themselves—joined Ms. Lennon in celebrating the “Sisters of Mercy Athletic Complex”. Students holding placards revealed the name of the field and the Sisters in attendance were celebrated by standing in front of the students once the name was announced.

Nick Gill, Mercy High School Athletic Director, stated, “Mercy has always provided an exceptional education for girls. With this effort, Mercy now provides the premier playing surface our girls deserve. This field… truly sets Mercy apart.”

The new field was completed in time for the commencement of the Fall 2019 school calendar.

Lewis Contractors constructed this new multi-purpose synthetic turf ballfield and a new park which includes basketball courts and walking paths. The park is managed by the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks and provides a location to host sports leagues for the city’s youth. As a part of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation’s mission to partner with communities to provide a place for recreation and education for at-risk youth, the Baltimore Ravens also joined in the effort by donating funds for the field’s construction. To recognize the organization’s generous donation, the field incorporates the Ravens’ colors and logo.

This new playing ground in southwest DC was officially christened Ryan Zimmerman Field during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Washington Nationals first baseman, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and other prominent local figures.

Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner noted that Zimmerman Field is the first “legacy field” refurbished through a project launched last summer by the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, with others to follow throughout the region. “This field will create opportunities for kids to make memories that they will never forget,” he declared.

Lewis Contractors partnered with Under Armour, the Nationals Dream Foundation, the DC Department of Parks and Recreaction, and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to renovate Randall Field into a brand new 71,600-square-foot turf field to include areas for regulation baseball, soccer, and softball. The project also includes new dugouts, new backstop, fencing, and scoreboard, among other amenities.

This athletic field project involved the construction of a new beep-ball/soccer field at The Maryland School for the Blind campus in Baltimore. In conjunction with the Cal Ripken, Sr. foundation and the school, this project features a turf infield and Kentucky Bluegrass outfield with an underground irrigation system with sand base.

The project began in February of 2015 and was completed in May.

Lewis Contractors completed Banner Field—a new youth athletic field at Latrobe Park in Locust Point. The multipurpose synthetic turf field was funded by donations made to the City of Baltimore through Under Armour’s WIN Baltimore Initiative, which strives to empower athletes of the next generation by providing youth greater access to sports. The new field in Latrobe Park comes as part of Under Armour’s continued giving campaign—paying forward to the local Baltimore communities and the revitalization of Locust Point. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation also partnered in the project to support Under Armour’s effort in providing a recreational facility for the community’s youth and served as the contractual Owner for the duration of the project.

Construction of the 89,000 square foot synthetic field began in April 2014 and includes tiered seating for 150 people, scoreboard, surrounding walk/run path, stadium lighting, and community parking. Now open to the public, the field will be managed by Baltimore Recreation and Parks and will be used for community events and ultimately serve as Digital Harbor High School’s home field. To further enhance Latrobe Park, Under Armour donated new flooring, a shade structure, and play equipment to the existing playground—Lewis Contractors worked cooperatively with Under Armour to install this additional equipment at no delay to the project schedule.