Vandeventer Field, a popular intramural and outdoor recreation location at Saint Louis University (SLU), recently received a $1.3 million renovation. This project included new turf from Shaw Sports Turf, solutions to draining problems, a state-of-the-art lighting system, expanded safety netting and a redesigned layout reflecting SLU’s current branding.
Todd Robben, the director of Campus Recreation and Wellness, said staff knew the old field was reaching the end of its usefulness. With safety being a top priority for SLU students and users of the space, he said it was finally time to replace the turf and complete a new renovation.
“After the COVID-19 pandemic, many student organizations on our campus had to practically rebuild their programs due to unsuccessful leadership transition,” said Robben. “As new student leaders began to engage, recruit and return to play, we were beginning to see an increase in participation and activity. We had brand new clubs starting to emerge, and we were seeing great participation numbers from clubs that were rebuilding. We were hoping this refresh would help further the excitement that’s been in the air and carry the momentum.”
Also, SLU previously refreshed its logos and mascot — the Billiken — in 2015. The previous Billiken logo was stitched into the old turf field three years before the new branding was rolled out. Robben said the school was excited for the opportunity to incorporate the new Billiken logo, which has brought profound energy to the space.
Reaction From Students
Since the renovation, reaction from students has been extremely positive. “We’re seeing this through drop-in usage of the space, participation in our intramural programs and facility reservation requests,” said Robben. “It appears everyone wants a piece of the action, which is fantastic to see.”
The space is being utilized by multiple groups of students engaging in a wide variety of activities. Aside from regularly scheduled programing with intramurals and sports clubs, Campus Recreation and Wellness is reserving the space for a variety of student organizations playing cricket, kickball, soccer and football.
Sport clubs currently using the field for outdoor recreation include men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s ultimate frisbee, cricket, flag football, and rugby.
“We’re also hearing how great the new turf is directly from our students engaged in intramurals and club sports,” said Robben. “With the project finishing two weeks ahead of schedule, our men’s lacrosse team was able to host their first home league match in years on the brand-new field. When speaking to the club’s president, he told me the new field was amazing and it was one of the best lacrosse games he’s ever played in. It’s these interactions with our students where I find our work to be most rewarding.”
Important Takeaways
For other schools considering renovating any outdoor recreation offerings, Robben said to first plan ahead, identify the potential impact such a project would have on sport clubs and be prepared to help accommodate any displacement.
“Over-communicate,” added Robben. “Even though we felt good about our communication plan, we still heard some displeasure from our students and users on how it was rolled out. We’re already thinking about ways to better our communications strategy for future projects. Examples include earlier communication, progress updates and utilizing additional channels, such as digital signage, across campus.”
Robben also advised to not be afraid to tap into your creativity. For example, SLU used unique shading within the turf colors to help accentuate lines for men’s lacrosse and flag football.
Finally, Robben said collaboration should be considered the main key to success. “Ensure the right people have a seat at the table, including students and primary users of the space,” he said. “This was helpful when determining line packages and placement. Other contributors to this project included Facilities Services, Construction and Grounds teams, Marketing and Communications, and Information Technology Services.”
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