The community engagement process around the modernization of the Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium at T.C. Williams High School will focus on the initial concepts for the design of the new stadium at the next community meeting at the end of March.
ACPS wants to hear from all groups vested in the future design of the stadium on Tuesday March 21 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Rotunda on the second floor of T.C. Williams.
The meeting will include initial concepts that the design firm Hord Caplan Macht have put together after listening to feedback from the public at February’s kick-off meeting. The architects asked the public for their greatest hopes and greatest fears for the new stadium that they could omit from or include in their designs.
The aim is to involve both the wider community and the civic associations who are immediate neighbors of the high school throughout the process.
You can view the presentation given by design firm Hord Caplan Macht at that initial meeting.
Many elements of Parker-Gray Stadium date back to 1965 when the original T.C. Williams building opened. The new design will include a new press box, track facilities and improvements to both home side and visitor’s side bleachers. The modernization will also provide designs for a ticket booth, a concession stand and new bathrooms, as well as a replacement sound system. Lighting upgrades include stadium and security lights for the field, as well as egress and safety lighting. The ultimate goal is to bring the Parker-Gray stadium into line with other modern sporting facilities across Northern Virginia.
The current concession stand lacks some of the basic amenities found in other high school concession stands. Designs will also be drawn up for new restrooms and for a ticket booth, which are missing features of the current field.
As part of the modernization plan, both the turf field and track need to be replaced as they are nearing the end of their life-cycle. The design for the track will include a high jump area, pole vault runway and pit area, long jump runway and sand pit, and shot put circle and landing zone.
Staff recommendations to upgrade Parker-Gray Stadium are based on student capacity. As student enrollment continues to grow, there is increasing need to maintain modern facilities to meet the athletic needs of the current and future student population and the marching band.
Hord Coplan Macht has previous experience in stadium projects of similar size and scope across the region as well as experience in modern sound systems and stadium lighting.