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J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park

Ruston, Louisiana

Client :: Louisiana Tech University

In the early morning hours of April 25, 2019, a ravaging EF-3 tornado swept through Louisiana Tech's campus damaging beyond repair multiple existing campus athletics facilities. Through a selection process, Lincoln Builders was chosen to provide Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) with Preconstruction services to demolish and rebuild the Baseball Stadium and support facility, Soccer/Softball Facility and fields, Soccer Complex, Softball Complex, as well as storm damage repairs to the Tennis facilities and Track and Field. Lincoln worked with the Project Team to identify the scope of damages and assisted the designer in planning the rebuild. In the process, the University had the opportunity to reimagine the existing athletics facilities and their layout, providing an entirely new location for the Women's Facilities but keeping J. C. Love Field at Patterson Park in its iconic location where it has stood for almost 50 years. 

On February 20, 2020, construction officially began with the goal of having the new state-of-the-art baseball facility ready in time for the 2021 season. That goal became a reality in May 2021, with LA Tech absent from their home field only one season. The new facility has a total capacity of 2,100, including 1,322 permanent chair back seats as well as a first base turf berm area for fans to set up their own chairs. The pressbox area features four suites, a radio booth for both home and visiting teams, scoreboard productions, TV production and a booth for the writing press. Also included are: player locker room; coaches locker rooms; coaches offices; athletic training satellite room; team meeting room; player lounge; equipment/laundry rooms; indoor practice facility.

"In less than two years from the tornado, the Baseball team was practicing in the new facility; and in less than 27 months construction of the new $30+ million facilities is complete. Lincoln Builders was a key part of the CMAR team that exceeded expectations of many experienced with this scale of demolition and construction. The dedication, skill and flexibility of Lincoln Builder's team was evident to all that participated in this recovery project."  

Leslie K. Guice, President-Louisiana Tech University

 photo credit: Matthew Cassity Photography (@mattcassphoto)