Heavy Civil Cincinnati Reds Urban Youth Academy

Based on past charitable involvements in the Cincinnati community, the Cincinnati Reds approached Kokosing to be a charitable partner to build the Reds Urban Youth Academy. The complex consists of four baseball fields and a 34,000-square-foot indoor practice facility, used to teach Cincinnati-area youth baseball and softball year round. 

During construction, the existing fencing and structures were removed, and Kokosing’s in-house survey crews established line and grade for the new fields. Once the fields were brought up to subgrade with fill from the indoor practice facility, the irrigation system, drainage system and final seeding and sodding of the fields was completed. A 270-seat grandstand area, complete with a pressbox, concession stand, mechanical room and restrooms were added to the fields. 

The indoor practice facility was mainly constructed of pre-cast concrete tilt up panels ranging from 10 feet to 45 feet in height, a barjoice, metal deck roofing structure and masonry walls. The building is comprised of four indoor batting tunnels equipped with fully retractable netting, pitching machines and viewing area; a full-size indoor ball diamond with a drop-down drapper curtain system, wall-to-wall netting and padding and synthetic turf field; spectator viewing area with a fitness room; and a multi-purpose room, conference room, training room and lobby. 

Kokosing managed the project design, schedule, budget and overall construction at cost and coordinated additional volunteer support. The facility was delivered one year ahead of schedule and $1 million under budget.