Promising to turn spectators into participants, The Yard, an immersive baseball experience designed by Metcalfe, debuted in 2018 at Citizens Bank Park (CBP). The 13,000-square-foot concourse installation offers fans a chance to literally get into the game.

The Metcalfe team was actively involved in all of the details of the project, from prototyping the hot dog launcher to specifying the pitch-speed radar gun to fitting the outfield wall with MLB-quality protective pads, delivering a project that is an informed combination of architecture and exhibit design.

To provide fans with the most genuine ballpark experience possible, The Yard was carefully planned to be a seamless extension of the main venue, avoiding the feeling of an add-on entertainment element through several design strategies. It uses the same building materials, finishes, and architectural features as CPB. Metcalfe oriented the diamond to share the same skyline vista of the city as the big-league field. Framing that view is a pair of slightly scaled-down icons of CBP, a 20-foot by 14-foot Phanavision electronic scoreboard/screen, and a nine-foot-tall Liberty Bell. Both are clearly visible from the centrally located dugout, which informally separates the AstroTurf playing field from other activities, such as the climbing wall and hot dog launcher.

We are proud to be part of the team recognized by the General Building Contractors Association Best Cultural Institution Project for 2018 — for The Yard at Citizens Bank Park.