Rendering of Wellesley Sports Center
Wellesley, MA – In early 2015, the town of Wellesley issued an RFP for a new multipurpose sports center at 900 Worcester Street. Dacon was awarded the design-build project in its entirety to complete engineering and construct the building.
The town selected the proposal from ESG Associates, led by Brian DeVellis. The team also included civil engineering firm Allen & Major Associates, Inc.; geotechnical firm Hayward Baker, Inc.; and project management firm Construction Monitoring Services, Inc. (CMS).
The ground-breaking ceremony took place on December 15, 2017. When completed, the Wellesley Sports Center will be the first of its kind in the MetroWest area.
With over 130,000sf of state-of-the-art indoor sport and training space, the center will provide best-in-class facilities for the town of Wellesley and neighboring communities. The facility will have two NHL-size hockey rinks, two pools including 10 lanes, and a smaller warm-water teaching/therapy pool.
An indoor multipurpose field will include 90-ft. x 150-ft. of turf, a 4,800sf fitness area with physical therapy, a 6,600sf strength and conditioning area, and a running track on a mezzanine. A variety of concession and amenity services are also being planned.
After performing geotechnical services, Dacon found that the soils on the plot of land were unsuitable, which heavily impacted the overall cost of the project. However, Dacon was diligent in providing approaches to mitigate the impact.
Kevin Provencher, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, notes, “Planning this multi-use facility on a compact site was a challenge for the design team, but the result is an efficient design that maximizes the potential of the site. Energy conservation measures include an all-LED lighting system, and the facility will harvest the thermal energy produced by the ice rink refrigeration system to heat the swimming pool water, which will reduce operating costs.”
Children and families will be able to benefit from its close proximity to their homes and schools. Its location and amenities will also prove beneficial for youth programs and students in need of a space for after-school practice. A full component of adult leagues is also planned.
