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EMPHASIZING REGIONALISM OVER NOSTALGIA, PETCO PARK
CELEBRATES SAN DIEGO EVEN MORE THAN BASEBALL
By Paul Tarricone
Sports lights hang off the front of two
200-ft high infield towers (far left).
These vertical structures behind
home plate house suites and break
up the seating bowl, creating different
“neighborhoods” within the stadium.
Conventional sports light racks could
not be used for these lights.
Petco Park is not kind to power hitters. With
its deep outfield fences, the spacious home
of the San Diego Padres turns what would
be home runs in other ballparks into harmless
flyball outs. So it stands to reason that Padres’
slugger Ryan Klesko would want to distance himself
from Petco after a game. Guess again. Klesko
has a condo at the Omni Hotel right next to the
ballpark and out his window he can look down
into the stadium. “I haven’t gone down to take
BP in my pajamas or anything,” he told Sports
Illustrated, “but I can roll out of bed and boom,
I’m already at the ballpark.”
Pretty cool. In fact, “California Cool” might be
the best way to describe Petco Park, its architecture
and its lighting. Notably, even the Padres’
website emphasizes the stadium’s San Diego
vibe over the baseball experience. “Architecturally
magnificent, it celebrates the sea, the sky, the
natural beauty, cultural diversity and unique spirit
of our region,” proclaims a fact sheet on the
stadium. “The relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere
reflects the San Diego lifestyle.”
Building materials include steel, natural stone,
stucco and brick. Two large, sandstone “garden
buildings” that frame the home plate entrance
(and provide fans a “peaceful refuge” and restaurants,
concession stands and outdoor terraces)
and lush landscaping each reinforce the regional
design approach of HOK Sport (executive architect)
and Antoine Predock (design architect). To
make the San Diego experience complete,
there’s even a patch of beach behind the rightcenter
field fence.
Illume/M-E Engineers, Wheat Ridge, CO, was
responsible for all architectural lighting, including
the plaza outside the stadium, the garden buildings,
the stadium façade, the concourses, restaurants,
suites, as well as the sports lighting.
SAN DIEGO TO
PHOTOS: TIMOTHY HURSLEY
The Core
30 www.iesna.org December 2005 LD+A 31