The City of Durham and Skanska USA Building have been honored by the Carolinas chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors with a Merit Award for renovating the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. This industry-focused accolade recognizes the City of Durham’s commitment to enhancing community spaces and builds on Skanska’s legacy of constructing and renovating some of Durham’s most prominent community projects.
Some of the renovations at DBAP included creating larger clubhouses, upgrading and doubling the size of the locker rooms, developing an updated space for Bulls office staff, enhancing retail configurations at the Ballpark Corner Store, and adding the new Hall of Fame hallway which honors its storied history. DBAP is also home to a new 3,750-SF air-conditioned indoor batting facility with two batting tunnels where fans can watch Bulls players warm up before games from Blackwell Street.
The City of Durham’s sustainability initiatives also played an important role in the renovation. A pilot sidewalk area outside of the batting tunnel was created using CarbonCure® Technologies. CarbonCure® injects captured carbon emissions (CO2) into fresh concrete where it immediately mineralizes, preventing CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. The mineralized CO2 is permanently embedded, trapping it in the sidewalk forever.
Beth Sayman, Vice President at Skanska, describes the project as an unwavering commitment to sustainability. “I am proud that our project reflects the positive impact we can make when we prioritize environmental consciousness and social responsibility in every decision. This award reinforces our belief that, through innovation and collaboration, we can create meaningful projects that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for all.”
In addition to incorporating the city’s sustainability goals, Skanska successfully achieved nearly 19 percent Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) participation, employing 16 HUB firms. Skanska led extensive community outreach and the development of small bid packages to encourage minority and women owned project participation. Additionally, Skanska partnered with Lennox & Grae, Inc. (L&G), a Durham-based Black and women-owned construction and development firm to provide onsite project management support – allowing its employees to gain experience and grow their capabilities.
Jina Propst, the Director of the General Services Department for the City, expressed gratitude for the recognition stating, “Receiving the ABC Carolinas Merit Award is a fantastic acknowledgment of the partnership between the City and the Durham Bulls and the local construction contracting community’s dedication to making Durham a great place to live, work and play.”
The project scheduling goals included having the player development spaces, locker rooms, and retail store open and ready for move-in before Opening Day in April 2023. Through collaboration with the architect, the City of Durham, and the Durham Bulls, Skanska completed the project ahead of schedule.
Operating from a regional headquarters in Durham, Skanska USA Building has completed nearly $2.9 billion worth of work in North Carolina and Virginia over the past 10 years and currently has more than $640 million of work in progress in the two states.
About Skanska
Skanska uses knowledge & foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect. More than 135 years in the making, we’re one of the world’s largest development and construction companies. We operate in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the United States. Skanska in the U.S. is headquartered in New York City with 29 offices around the country. In 2022, construction in the U.S. generated $6.9 billion in revenue, and as a developer in the U.S., Skanska has invested a total of $3.5 billion in commercial and multi-family projects. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 6,500 teammates in the U.S. and 28,000 globally, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.
