As part of the Department of Parks and Recreation Design Excellence Initiative, Sage and Coombe was selected to design the track and fieldhouse in Staten Island’s new 110-acre Ocean Breeze Park.
The building occupies one of the few remaining areas of native upland coastal grasslands on the island and it required strategic siting. To minimize site disturbance, the facility was designed to sit significantly above the floodplain, a plan that accommodates parking below, enhances both views and natural ventilation, and safeguards against storms. When Hurricane Sandy hit during construction, the strategic elevation ensured that the building was largely undisturbed.
Green building principles informed the approach to water management, day-lighting, and natural ventilation, with the potential for future incorporation of photovoltaic technology on the roof. The project is currently seeking LEED Silver Certification.
The fieldhouse includes a 200-meter hydraulically-banked track that meets USATF, NCAA, and IAFF competition standards, as well as seating for two thousand five hundred people, a fitness center, concession, restrooms, service spaces, a terrace overlooking the expansive parkland, and, concealed beneath the building, one hundred forty naturally ventilated parking spaces.
