Marion Outdoor Activities Complex
OPN’s partnership with the Marion Independent School District dates back to 1978. In the last 12 years OPN has worked on multiple renovations, additions, and new construction with the district.
Most recently in 2020, our firm was re-engaged to facilitate master planning and bond support for the district. After the successful passage of a $36M bond and with the help of a community facility group, the district arrived at a plan for a new elementary school, major renovations and additions to an existing intermediate school, a new performing arts center, and a new outdoor activities complex.
Following a successful bond vote, OPN began design of the first phase: the outdoor complex, which will be complete in November 2022. The initial phase of the masterplan is the construction of a new, state of the art stadium on their existing high school campus including a new artificial turf field, new track, new grandstands, new press box, new concessions, new restrooms, and new guest amenities. This facility will support football, soccer, track and field, marching band competitions, graduation ceremonies, and practices for all. When completed, it will accommodate 2,000 spectators and the design embraces universal design principals by efficiently exceeding ADA requirements for spectators, coaching staff, press, and student athletes.
Photo Gallery
Branding and identity are exceedingly important for athletic venues. OPN leveraged the height and scale of the press box elevator as an opportunity to reinforce the school’s newly developed branding standards, logos, and mascot. Additionally, the design team partnered with graphic designers to create spaces for changeable super graphics hung from the pressbox. Day-to-day operations were considered during design of the complex and spaces for the equipment used to maintain the artificial turf fields were strategically included.
Other projects include renovations to the intermediate school which is also under construction, a new 50,000-square-foot elementary to replace an aging elementary school, and a new performance venue and renovations to the high school.
