Play Ball! – University Academy Project

Author: Jason Riordan

University Academy Charter School is on the move! Straub Construction is proud to have recently completed a state of-the-art athletic field and support facilities. Established in 2000, University Academy Charter School provides an outstanding learning experience in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri located at 6801 Holmes and serving approximately 1,000 students in grades K-12.

The new facility includes a multi-sport artificial turf field, press box, scoreboard, two new multipurpose buildings and grandstands with seating for 1,200. The new field will be used for football, track, baseball, soccer, band and PE classes.

Thanks are due to Shirley Helzberg and the University Academy Foundation for making this project possible. The school also received a grant from the NFL that helped bring such a great facility to the surrounding community.

Representing Straub Construction were Jeff Walters, who was the Superintendent and Jason Riordan, the Project Manager.  Serving as Project Architects for Hollis+Miller, were Joe Rathermal and Jeff Schutzler.  Jason Blackburn, Stacy Clapsaddle and Rebecca Barret from Smith and Boucher were the MEP Engineers and Matt Eblen from Shafer, Kline & Warren was the Civil Engineer. Vance Rzepka from VSR Design was in charge of the Athletic Field Design and Landscaping.  Pete Lacy with Lacy & Company served as the Owner’s Representative.

The Owner, Design Team and Straub Construction worked around a number of issues to squeeze this facility onto the existing grounds at the school.  Fortunately, all the hard work paid off and the final product is a beautiful facility that the whole community can be proud of.

“We were extremely pleased with Straub’s performance in constructing the new athletic complex.   This was a very complicated project on a small site with many adjustments needed along the way.  Straub was excellent at managing the typical subcontractors needed for the buildings as well as the specialty subcontractors needed for the field, bleachers and press box.  They got to know University Academy staff and communicated thoroughly to avoid any disruption of operations.  Everyone took pride in their work and the impact it would have on the kids who would use the field.  Straub delivered on the very high expectations set by University Academy and its supporting foundation. “

Peter T. Lacy, President
LACY & COMPANY