Pirates unveil new home clubhouse at McKechnie Field
The Pittsburgh Pirates today unveiled the club's new Major League clubhouse at McKechnie Field, the team's Spring Training ballpark in Bradenton, Fla.
The one-story 22,500 square foot clubhouse will include a strength and conditioning room, athletic training room, hydrotherapy, equipment room, custom wood lockers for players and coaches, kitchen and dining hall, coaches' conference room, offices, and a press conference room.
Fawley Bryant Architects designed the new Major League clubhouse to architecturally complement the existing stadium's Mediterranean forms and brick inlayed columns, while also making a contemporary statement. The building is nestled in the right field corner of the stadium, increasing the size of the first base concourse and providing a central focal point with a glass entry lobby and barrel roof.
The weight room is located on the north elevation of the building with a rising roof to allow clerestory lighting to flood the space with natural light. Two large overhead doors from the weight room open to an expanded agility field and recently added batting cage building. These areas are all viewable from the outfield boardwalk making the fan friendly facility even more engaging for visitors.
This is the second of two major capital improvement projects the Pirates have added to the club's Bradenton-based facilities for the 2015 season. Earlier this spring, the team unveiled a new 12,240 square foot performance center at the team's training facility in east Bradenton, Pirate City.
The two-story performance center, which was constructed adjacent to the existing dining facility, combines leading edge technology with coaching, training and recovery support. It is designed to support the organization's year-round athletic performance and rehabilitation programs in Bradenton.
The construction of both buildings was fully funded by the Pirates as a part of the club's long standing commitment to the City of Bradenton and Manatee County. Both projects were completed by Fawley Bryant as the Architect of Record and NDC Construction as the Design Build firm - the same team that successfully completed the recent award-winning renovations to McKechnie Field in 2013.
Bradenton has hosted Pirates Spring Training every year since 1969. Only one team has trained at its current Spring Training facility longer. In addition to Spring Training, McKechnie Field is home to the Bradenton Marauders, the Pirates' Single-A affiliate in the Florida State League.
