Northwestern University Athletics
Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletic Center Earn ILASLA Merit Award
7/1/2020 11:20:00 AM | General
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern University's Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center received a 2019 Merit Award in design from the Illinois chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects this week.
The ILASLA honored 14 constructed buildings completed by Illinois-based organizations with a 2019 Merit Award in design. SmithGroup were the landscape architects involved in the design of the building, which opened in summer of 2018.
SmithGroup designed three synthetic turf fields to be used for varsity, intramural and club programs. The three fields are Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, Chap and Ethel Hutcheson Field and Wilson Field inside of Ryan Fieldhouse.
The new complex was designed to prevent stormwater from traveling to city storm sewers. As such, SmithGroup integrated green infrastructure practices including infiltration vaults, water quality treatment structures, and bioswales, enhancing the natural hydrologic cycle. The curved coastal wall allows the building to withstand the dynamic waterfront conditions.
Named for University Trustee Patrick Ryan and his wife, Shirley, long-standing Northwestern benefactors, Ryan Fieldhouse serves as one of the most versatile indoor practice, competition and recreation venues in the nation. Housing Wilson Field – named for Trustee Steve Wilson and his wife, Sue – Ryan Fieldhouse hosts football, soccer, lacrosse and other varsity sport practices and competitions, as well as club and intramural activities. Wilson Field is striped for NCAA regulation football, soccer and lacrosse, with movable bleacher seating for up to 900 spectators and an automated netting system designed to subdivide the space for use by multiple groups simultaneously.
The Walter Athletics Center, named in honor of Kimbra D. Walter '85 and University Trustee Mark R. Walter '85 JD, serves as the day-to-day hub for more than 500 student-athletes across all 19 varsity programs. Specifically, the building brings together under one roof the sports performance, sports medicine, nutrition, locker rooms and academic support services student-athletes need to succeed. Coaches and student-athletes from men's and women's soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and cross country are based in the facility. In addition, the Walter Athletics Center house the football program, including its locker room, coaches' offices, position meeting rooms, weight room and virtual reality training space.
The Querrey Simpson Wing of the Walter Athletics Center, named in honor of Northwestern trustees Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson '58, recognizes the couple's generous commitment to improving the academic, social and professional development of Wildcats student-athletes. Located on the building's third floor, the wing includes Northwestern Athletics' academic services, compliance and NU For Life programs, as well as Nona Jo's Dining Center, a world-class nutritional hub with indoor and outdoor seating, and panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.
Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium is named to honor the generosity and leadership of the Chair of the Board of Trustees J. Landis Martin '68, '73 JD and Sharon Martin '02 P, '07 P, '08 P, and it is the home for women's soccer, men's soccer and lacrosse as well as numerous club and intramural sports.
Chap and Ethel Hutcheson Field is named in honor of Edward "Chap" Hutcheson, Jr., a 1968 Northwestern graduate, and Ethel E. Hutcheson, who both serve on the Athletics and Recreation Campaign Committee, and it is the football program's outdoor practice field. Both turf fields were opened for use in 2016 on the shoreline of Lake Michigan.
The Merit Award is the second notable honor given to the project after Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center was named 2018 Project of the Year by Engineering News-Record (ENR) Midwest.
The ILASLA honored 14 constructed buildings completed by Illinois-based organizations with a 2019 Merit Award in design. SmithGroup were the landscape architects involved in the design of the building, which opened in summer of 2018.
SmithGroup designed three synthetic turf fields to be used for varsity, intramural and club programs. The three fields are Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, Chap and Ethel Hutcheson Field and Wilson Field inside of Ryan Fieldhouse.
The new complex was designed to prevent stormwater from traveling to city storm sewers. As such, SmithGroup integrated green infrastructure practices including infiltration vaults, water quality treatment structures, and bioswales, enhancing the natural hydrologic cycle. The curved coastal wall allows the building to withstand the dynamic waterfront conditions.
Welcome to Walter Athletics Center.
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) August 2, 2018
Let's take a look around... ??#B1GCats pic.twitter.com/RXmHfUqKUM
Named for University Trustee Patrick Ryan and his wife, Shirley, long-standing Northwestern benefactors, Ryan Fieldhouse serves as one of the most versatile indoor practice, competition and recreation venues in the nation. Housing Wilson Field – named for Trustee Steve Wilson and his wife, Sue – Ryan Fieldhouse hosts football, soccer, lacrosse and other varsity sport practices and competitions, as well as club and intramural activities. Wilson Field is striped for NCAA regulation football, soccer and lacrosse, with movable bleacher seating for up to 900 spectators and an automated netting system designed to subdivide the space for use by multiple groups simultaneously.
The Walter Athletics Center, named in honor of Kimbra D. Walter '85 and University Trustee Mark R. Walter '85 JD, serves as the day-to-day hub for more than 500 student-athletes across all 19 varsity programs. Specifically, the building brings together under one roof the sports performance, sports medicine, nutrition, locker rooms and academic support services student-athletes need to succeed. Coaches and student-athletes from men's and women's soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and cross country are based in the facility. In addition, the Walter Athletics Center house the football program, including its locker room, coaches' offices, position meeting rooms, weight room and virtual reality training space.
The Querrey Simpson Wing of the Walter Athletics Center, named in honor of Northwestern trustees Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson '58, recognizes the couple's generous commitment to improving the academic, social and professional development of Wildcats student-athletes. Located on the building's third floor, the wing includes Northwestern Athletics' academic services, compliance and NU For Life programs, as well as Nona Jo's Dining Center, a world-class nutritional hub with indoor and outdoor seating, and panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.
Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium is named to honor the generosity and leadership of the Chair of the Board of Trustees J. Landis Martin '68, '73 JD and Sharon Martin '02 P, '07 P, '08 P, and it is the home for women's soccer, men's soccer and lacrosse as well as numerous club and intramural sports.
Chap and Ethel Hutcheson Field is named in honor of Edward "Chap" Hutcheson, Jr., a 1968 Northwestern graduate, and Ethel E. Hutcheson, who both serve on the Athletics and Recreation Campaign Committee, and it is the football program's outdoor practice field. Both turf fields were opened for use in 2016 on the shoreline of Lake Michigan.
The Merit Award is the second notable honor given to the project after Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center was named 2018 Project of the Year by Engineering News-Record (ENR) Midwest.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Lacrosse - NCAA Tournament 2nd Round vs JMU Postgame Press Conference (5/10/26)
Sunday, May 10
Baseball - 'Cats Ground Redbirds in 7-1 Midweek Victory (5/5/26)
Tuesday, May 05
Softball - Marina Mason Tosses One-Hit Shutout, 'Cats Claim Series Win vs. Minnesota (5/3/26)
Monday, May 04
Baseball - 'Cats Take Series with 9-6 Victory over Hoosiers (5/3/26)
Sunday, May 03
