West Valley College, situated in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, is a picturesque campus with an extensive array of existing athletic facilities and fields. The first project in a planned series of campus-wide athletic facility renovations, we re-imagined the softball complex to align with the college’s emphasis on athletic excellence. The new facility enhances the competitive advantage for Viking student-athletes with a best-in-class synthetic turf primary field, adjacent practice infield, combined player dugout and locker rooms for player support, and covered batting cage for training. In addition, there is seating for 500 fans with great views of the action on the field and dramatic setting beyond.

Our envelope design is characterized by a crisp cladding of phenolic panels installed as a rain screen, which provides a durable, hard-wearing exterior requiring minimal maintenance for many years. The batting cages, with a long span roof supported by redwood Glu-lam beams and steel columns, is an aesthetic feature that allows player training in all weather conditions. The new complex supports on-campus student-athletes and creates a revenue-generating venue that can be utilized by visiting professional and collegiate teams.