Philadelphia Phillies Urban Youth Academy participants now have a feel for what it is like to be a professional ballplayer, thanks to new precast dugouts and press box at the historic FDR Park. Easi-Set Buildings were selected for the three structures because of their affordability, durability, and aesthetics. Oldcastle Infrastructure Inc., an Easi-Set licensed producer, manufactured the prefabricated buildings at its Easton, Pa. plant.
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| For foul balls or wild pitches, Easi-Set Buildings provide added durability: They are the only line of precast concrete buildings in North America that have a UL 752 Level-5 rating for standard walls. |
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The two-story, 12- x 16-ft. press box has interior circular stair access and sliding windows on adjacent sides for scouts to watch the two different ballfields. All the buildings have a splitface block finish and are painted with Sherwin-Williams’ Cemented Deal color and a H&C Concrete stain. The structures were set on stone bases, and installation took one day for both 8- x 33-ft. dugouts and an additional day to set the press box.
“The dugouts make the fields look much more professional and upscale and are comfortable for the players,” says Rob Holiday, director of Amateur Scouting Administration with the Philadelphia Phillies. “The press box helps give our staff shelter from the elements, and we can provide music and announce the batters during the games. The whole facility looks much better with the additions.”
Visited by about 120,000 people each year, FDR Park has eight ballfields, a golf course, rugby field, tennis courts, the American Swedish Historical Museum, skate park, fishing lakes and yoga space. It is a historic attraction for visitors and an urban oasis for Philadelphia residents.