Sports Construction Group gets new home
10 May, 2010 By: Niki Swank Athletic Turf NewsA marquee display on a building facade designed to replicate Progressive Field, as well as a lawn made of artificial turf, can now be seen in Brecksville. Although it sounds like a new stadium might have sprung up to the south, the pair is actually fixtures on the new grounds for Sports Construction Group (SCG). 
The company opened its new headquarters at 10303 Brecksville Road in November. SCG’s chief operating officer Al Ewing explains it was important to have the building resemble the Cleveland Indians’ home because that field was SCG’s first pro field job. Since it handled the Indians field, SCG has been involved in the construction of fields for 25% of NFL teams and one-fifth of Major League Baseball teams, the most recent the New York Yankees new field. SCG also offers design/build services for both natural grass and artificial fields for colleges and high schools.
Light up the way
The path to the building is lit up with luminaries shaped like baseball bats and balls designed to lead guests into the lobby area, where they can hang their coats in replicated professional lockers.
“It gives you the sports atmosphere, as do the trophy shelves on another wall,” says Ewing. “We want to show our clients when they come into our office that we do things right.” He is proud of people’s expressions when they walk in, after they see the artificial turf in the front and the mural in the conference room simulating a loge view from behind home plate at Progressive Field. 
Thomas Keller Architects began the design stage of the building in May 2009, and, according to Ewing, SCG went with the first rendering presented because, “the design just knocked our socks off.” Project architect David Harris explains that his firm met with the owner and realized, after looking at the existing office, how much sports is reflected the environment.
“They loved the ideas we had right off the bat,” he says, grinning at the pun.
SCG wanted the design to reflect the professional and up-to-date sports venues they construct. According to Harris, the first major design hurdle was the marquee, because it took creativity to work within the city’s guidelines. “It looks like a scrolling marquee, but it’s stationary,” he says. “I’m most proud of the new entrance and front façade, because the idea for them came to my mind right after talking with the client.” Harris explains that an important consideration when planning the project “was SCG’s business, and the services they offer.”
The new HQ was a renovation of a 22,000-sq.-ft. former manufacturing building, which originally contained 4,000 sq. ft. of open office space and 18,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, into 6,600 sq. ft. of office space and 15,400 sq. ft. of warehouse space. Ewing says 
SCG needed to make sure there was enough room for future growth, and it had alternative plans on how to utilize the different spaces. The architect suggested adding a mezzanine above the office area to add the extra space needed. He says the $600,000 project consolidated SCG’s offices, formerly located on West 6th St., with two other warehouse storage areas formerly located on the west side. All operations are now under one roof, near major interstate highways, the turnpike and the airport.
Construction started in August, and SCG selected an experienced construction manager to be on site during the building process. The owner handled the bidding, but needed the construction manager’s eyes and expertise to reach its goal of moving in before December. According to Ewing, the project went very smooth for the most part, but everyone involved had to “turn it up a notch” at the end to meet the move in date.
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