NorthWood High School Baseball-Softball Complex

In 2023, NorthWood High School transformed its campus with the addition of an unrivaled baseball and softball complex that has since garnered high praise from both the Nappanee community and visiting teams. The expansive project features two turf baseball fields and two turf softball fields, supported by a central restroom and concession building, storage and press box facilities, and modern grandstands. Designed with comprehensive site work and premium ballpark amenities, the complex provides the infrastructure necessary to host large crowds and multiple concurrent events at a premier level.

The project’s development coincided with a period of significant economic volatility, as rising costs and record-high inflation impacted the commercial construction industry. Originally conceived by a different design team before the pandemic, the project required a rigorous re-evaluation when the current Owner-Design-CMc team was formed. Through a highly collaborative process, the team evaluated various cost-control options across multiple phases of the project, successfully navigating the accelerating inflationary environment to bring the original vision to life.

The resulting complex has become a benchmark for athletic facilities in the region, frequently hosting sectional tournaments as well as regional high schools and colleges when other area stadiums are sidelined by weather. The quality of the synthetic turf and facilities is so high that Elkhart County’s minor league baseball team, “The Miracle,” selected NorthWood’s complex as the home site for their games. This acclaim highlights the facility’s role as a versatile, high-performance destination that serves both the school corporation and the broader regional athletic community.