Turner Construction Company thinking green during construction of USD’s Fowler Park

by Shane Henson — January 7, 2013—Turner Construction Company, a North America-based international provider of building services, was contracted last year to build Fowler Park at the University of San Diego (USD). The company recently announced that the project is 50 percent complete.

The new Fowler Park at USD will be home to Cunningham Field, built in the 1960s. The $11 million baseball venue includes seating for 1,700, a state-of-the-art clubhouse for the players, two suites, a press box, restrooms, concessions, stadium lighting, new sod, and a synthetic turf. Constructed with local and recycled materials, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and a sustainable design, the project is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification, says Turner Construction Company.

Sustainability has been at the heart of the project from the start, as evidenced by not only the facility’s expected LEED certification, but the strategies Turner Construction Company employed on its own while building the facility. Recently ranked by the Engineering News-Record as the United States’ top green construction firm, Turner Construction Company set up its jobsite office at USD in the EcoPort Trailer, which features nontoxic and formaldehyde-free plywood, solar and wind-generated power, and a composting toilet. Turner Construction Company has also achieved a 94 percent recycle rate at Fowler Park, it says.

“We believe that stewarding our environment is our responsibility. We aim to be eco-conscious not only because it is often a high priority of our clients, but also because it is a high priority of our own,” said Shawn Rosenberger, vice president and general manager of Turner Construction Company, San Diego.