Ballpark at St. George
Staten Island, N.Y.
HOK Sport + Venue + Event

A waterfront ballpark rises ambitiously from an abandoned railyard

© Maxwell MacKenzie

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

The Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George is a new stadium for the Class A Staten Island Yankees. The design of the new ballpark includes strong references to its waterfront surroundings and offers fans incredible views of Manhattan.

Originally an abandoned rail yard used for ferry parking, the site sits directly on the New York Harbor adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry terminal. The historic St. George neighborhood rises above the site and is separated from it by a continuous 20-foot retaining wall, which offered architects the challenge of overcoming an abrupt vertical change from street to site. The program includes administrative offices, a restaurant, a team store, locker rooms and support services for a 6,500 seat ballpark with 21 suites.

The ballpark metaphorically and physically breaks the retaining wall and reconnects the St. George neighborhood to the waterfront. Public plazas on the south side draw the neighborhood onto the site. Ramped sidewalks on the east and west sides of the ballpark connect the neighborhood to waterfront plazas and an esplanade.
Extending sightlines from the city through the stadium emphasizes the continuation of the city to the waterfront. The views to Manhattan are maximized from the seating bowl, sidewalks, concourse, and suites.

The connection between water and city is also reflected in the building’s articulation. One- and two-story masonry buildings on the periphery of the site relate to the fabric of the adjacent neighborhood. The galvanized steel lintels and canopy supports reflect the industrial nature of the waterfront. PVC sail structures are raised up at the three entrances and access to the waterfront esplanade and bikeway system as well as to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal is available from within.

Formal name of Project:
Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George

Location:
Staten Island, N.Y.

Total construction cost:
$29 million

Owner:
New York City Economic Development

Architect:
HOK Sport + Venue + Event
323 W. 8th St.
KC, MO 64105
816.221.1500 phone
816.221.1578 fax