American Builders 2017 is marking a home run as the new SunTrust Park begins to welcome visitors. The construction manager and joint venture of Brasfield & Gorrie, Mortenson Construction, Barton Malow Company and New South Construction has completed the new home of the Atlanta Braves in time for the 2017 season.

The construction team and its subcontractors teamed to complete the project just 29 months after breaking ground, logging more than 5.6 million man hours in total.

“This has been a tremendous team effort in every aspect of the project,” said Rob Taylor, President of Brasfield & Gorrie, which served as lead contractor for American Builders 2017. “It is extremely exciting to finally see the results of 29 months of hard work and dedication. I appreciate the level of commitment that each member of the construction team had to the Atlanta Braves, Cobb County and the community to ensure we provided all stakeholders with a facility that is second to none. It is truly an honor to be a member of this team.” 

During construction, American Builders 2017 placed: 

• 57,312 cubic yards of concrete, which equates to more than 4,770 truckloads of concrete
• 5,640 tons of rebar, which is approximately the weight of 800 African elephants
• 6,800 tons of structural steel, which is approximately the weight of 170 tractor-trailers
• 33,201,065 pounds of structural precast, which is approximately the weight of 190 C-140 jets
• 231,890 linear feet, or nearly 44 miles, of pipe
• 602,000 hand-set bricks, which would stretch 76 miles if laid end to end

SunTrust Park’s hybrid design of concrete and steel aided the project’s fast-track schedule in addition to the use of structural precast stadia.

Designed to create the ultimate fan experience, the 41,500-seat ballpark features the best sightlines in Major League Baseball, a large canopy for optimal weather protection, a three-level, 6,000 square foot Chop House, an Xfinity rooftop lounge, and a variety of food and beverage options, including an on-site brew pub. Fans will also enjoy a large shaded plaza with water fountains and an amphitheater.

Other features include clubhouses for the Braves and visiting teams, locker rooms and training areas, and the Braves’ front office space.

Stadium features by the numbers:

• 1,100,000 square feet
• 41,500 seats
• 4,000 club seats
• 32 premium suites totaling 144,000 square feet
• 3 club lounges
• 4 four seating decks with a 90 foot overhang
• 10 escalators
• 14 elevators
• 120’ wide x 64’ tall main video scoreboard
• Field dimensions = 335'-L, 385'-LC, 400′-C, 375'-RC 325'-R
• 25-year naming rights deal with SunTrust Bank

The ballpark flows directly into The Battery Atlanta, a 57-acre 1.5 million square foot mixed-use development, featuring boutique shopping, chef-driven restaurants, an Omni Hotel, and The Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre along with residences and the One Ballpark Center office building. 

“We didn’t just build a ballpark, we built the infrastructure that supports the entire development” said Derek Cunz, Senior Vice President, Mortenson Construction. “Our use of virtual design and construction technology helped us coordinate schedules and work with the other ongoing construction projects. We also used technology to support the marketing and sales of premium spaces at the ballpark.”

“The project’s outstanding safety record reflects the team’s emphasis on creating a culture of safety awareness,” said Len Moser, Vice President, Barton Malow Company.

A partnership between American Builders 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Georgia Tech Research Institute and the Georgia chapter of the Associated General Contractors enhanced safety efforts on the project, promoting the use of health and safety best practices. As part of ongoing safety efforts, American Builders 2017 teamed up with Kids Chance, a nonprofit organization that supports children affected by catastrophic workplace accidents, and committed to fund scholarships for Georgia students affected by construction-related accidents.

“The American Builders team was formed based on our relationship with the Braves and our commitment to do what we say we are going to do,” said Rob Ragan, Vice President of New South Construction. “Twenty-nine months later our relationship is stronger than when we started. We did what we said we were going to do.” 

“Our team really pulled together for a strong finish,” said Brasfield & Gorrie Division Manager Chris Britton, who served as American Builders 2017 Project Director. “At no time during construction could anyone outside of our team tell who worked for which of the joint venture partners; it was all American Builders 2017 driving toward a common goal. The on-time completion of this landmark ballpark and sports-anchored development is a testament to the team’s dedication, expertise and hard work.”

Other project team members include architect Populous, Braves project manager Jones Lang LaSalle, and Cobb County program manager Heery International. Construction began in 2014 and will be completed for Opening Day 2017.