The University of Mississippi’s Pride of the South marching band has enjoyed preparing for the 2024 football season on the new $5.4 million practice field.  The field is a full-size replica of Hollingsworth Field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The practice field features synthetic turf with the Ole Miss script logo at center field. Dr. Tim Oliver, Director of Bands and Professor of Music, told us, “While it may look like a football field, this new space is really an outdoor classroom for the students enrolled in Pride of the South Marching Band. The new outdoor classroom has increased the instructional efficiency of the band faculty members and has accelerated student learning and achievement.”  He went on to explain that this practice field and teaching tower allows the students to learn more efficiently and effectively.  The full-size field improves the band’s accuracy and reduces instructional time, overall. 
 
HNP Landscape Architecture was responsible for the field design, grading/drainage, landscaping and construction administration. The synthetic turf and new drainage system minimizes instructional time loss. In wet weather conditions, the band can be practicing on the field in just a short amount of time, whereas a natural field delays the band’s ability to use the field for at least a day.  
 
Dr. Oliver stated, “The students and alumni visitors all seem to have renewed respect, appreciation, and “pride” for Pride of the South Marching Band. This facility is among, if not the best, outdoor classrooms in the nation.”

The City of Hoover and Hoover City Schools teamed up to enhance several ballfields, elevating the playing experience for athletes. With the redevelopment led by HNP Landscape Architecture and Lathan Architects, eleven baseball and softball fields spread across six sites were upgraded. The $9 million project included fields at Shades Mountain Park, Spain Park High School, Spain Park Sports Complex, Hoover Sports Park Central, Hoover East Sports Complex, and Hoover High School.
 
Announced in late 2022, the partnership initially focused on upgrading the softball and baseball fields at Hoover High School and Spain Park High School. Building on this success, the City then moved forward with enhancements to seven additional youth fields.  HNP provided comprehensive services throughout the project, including field designs, bidding assistance, and construction observation. The design incorporated the use of synthetic turf, as well as upgrades to bullpens, hitting cages, and dugouts.
 
“It was important for the City of Hoover to install synthetic turf on various baseball and softball fields throughout the city for a variety of reasons,” said Erin Colbaugh, Director, Hoover Parks & Recreation. “This project creates a much-needed upgrade to the sports parks and will allow sports teams to continue to practice and play games with minimal rainouts.  The turf fields also provide flexibility to host sports such as flag football, soccer and lacrosse.  Another advantage is minimal field maintenance when hosting large tournaments throughout the year.  These fields are a great asset to the community, and we appreciate the work HNP provided on this project.”

​As the Hewitt-Trussville Huskies returned to campus for the 2024-25 school year, noticeable changes had taken place on multiple athletic fields.  With the support of the Trussville City Council, funds were released from the city’s public school capital improvement trust fund to facilitate phase one of Trussville City Schools’ athletics master plan. 
 
Phase one has been completed and features new synthetic turf for the baseball field, softball field, regulation soccer field, a covered football practice field and the multi-purpose field that is designed to accommodate football, soccer, and lacrosse.

HNP provided the landscape architecture services for the conversion of the baseball, softball, soccer, football practice and multi-purpose fields to synthetic turf. Design scope included: field layout and dimensioning, surface layout and detailing, grading and drainage, field equipment, site landscape, estimation, design coordination, bidding services and construction observation. 

​The Gogue Performing Arts Center Studio Theatre and Amphitheatre project will transform the existing outdoor stage into a 3,500-square-foot studio theatre. Additionally, a new exterior stage will be extended, and the amphitheatre will be fully built out to seat approximately 3,000 patrons, with a combination of orchestra and general admission seating.

This project is located at the corner of Woodfield Drive and South College Street, adjacent to the south side of the existing Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center in Auburn, AL. The total estimated cost is $15 million, which will be financed by gift funds.

HNP is responsible for the landscape and hardscape design. The design concept includes a comprehensive planting plan, planter design and detailing, retaining walls, sloped lawn seating, stairs, and an irrigation plan.
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Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2024, with an estimated completion time of one year. Wilson Butler is the architect for the project, and Rabren will serve as the general contractor for this addition to the Performing Arts Center.

Over the years, HNP and Lathan Architects have partnered on numerous institutional projects.  Many schools and municipalities throughout the state have enjoyed the results of our collaboration, having completed more than 30 projects together.  Most recently, HNP and Lathan have completed the conversion of the Hewitt-Trussville athletic fields, upgrades to ten Hoover baseball and softball fields, the Oxford High School indoor practice facility as well as track and field updates at Jacksonville and Gardendale High Schools.
 
Lathan Architects is a full‐service design firm based in Hoover, Alabama offering a comprehensive range of services. Since 1990, Lathan Architects has worked in partnership with clients to thoughtfully assess each project and develop architectural solutions that not only blend with their surroundings but enhance life.
 
Learn more about Lathan Architects here.
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