For countless schools, colleges and universities, parks, and professional sports teams, the quality and longevity of their athletic fields are of the utmost importance. These facilities, however, are more than just the site of sporting events. They serve as a central hub of activity for students, athletes, coaches, parents, and members of the community.

Wight & Company creates recreational spaces that are enduring, adaptable, and sustainable, and increasingly that means the installation of artificial turf. With their high degree of safety and durability, plus lower maintenance costs over the life of the field, artificial turf fields support state-of-the-art facilities that can be used by multiple groups with no downtime and minimal maintenance. Here are four of our recent projects.

In the past five years, our team has worked on 55 synthetic turf projects -- that's over 4 million square feet of turf.

College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL

College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL

College of DuPage - Glen Ellyn, IL

Wight has partnered with the College of DuPage (COD) since 1983 on a wide variety of projects. In summer 2010, COD commissioned Wight to perform Design Led-Design Build services for a complex, two-phased project focused on their athletic facilities. Wight completed a football/soccer field, running track, track and field events area, and bleachers with a press box, as well as site work on four soccer fields and a detention pond.

The project scope brought several challenges that we worked with COD to overcome. A substantial amount of earth had to be moved to accommodate the athletic areas. The size of the site presented a problem for stormwater detention, which Wight solved by burying pre-fabricated, stormwater vaults underneath the fields. In addition, Wight was able to initiate a phased procurement of trades to accommodate the client’s need for a fast-track schedule.

Project highlights include:

Synthetic competitive combination football/soccer field
2000-seat bleachers with 500 sf pressbox
Football field lighting for night games
New running track and associated field facilities
Four new irrigated grass soccer fields

De La Salle Institute | Chicago, IL

De La Salle Institute | Chicago, IL

De La Salle Institute - Chicago, IL

At De La Salle Institute on the south side of Chicago, Wight renovated and replaced the high school’s varsity football/soccer field and varsity baseball field with synthetic turf from FieldTurf. Significant facility upgrades included new baseball dugouts and storage, a new backstop with netting, new high mast lighting, and associated infrastructure including underground stormwater detention storage, plus the installation of a decorative gateway entry and pedestrian pavers to enhance the fan experience.

Bolingbrook High School | Bolingbrook, IL

Bolingbrook High School | Bolingbrook, IL

Bolingbrook Synthetic Turf Athletic Fields - Bolingbrook, IL

Wight provided planning, architecture, engineering, estimating, and construction management for additions and renovations to the athletic fields at Bolingbrook under a sole source Design Led-Design Build project approach.

Project Highlights:

Sports complex - 5 baseball fields, football/ track & field stadium, and tennis courts
Student capacity of 3500
Auditorium for 910 guests with separate entrance for community events
Competition gym with seating for 2000
Natural light in 90% of learning spaces
First school in Illinois to be LEED Certified

Downers Grove North High School | Downers Grove, IL

Downers Grove South High School | Downers Grove, IL

Downers Grove North High School | Downers Grove, IL

Downers Grove South High School | Downers Grove, IL

CUSD 99 - Downers Grove North & South High Schools - Downers Grove, IL

Wight provided planning, architecture, engineering, estimating, and construction management for the construction of new football fields, running tracks and athletic fields at both Downers Grove North and South High Schools under a sole source Design Led-Design Build project approach.

Downers Grove North High School project highlights include:

New synthetic turf football/soccer field
New running track
New field event area
New asphalt walking paths and plaza area
New grass athletic field with improved drainage
New varsity softball field with dugouts

Downers Grove South High School project highlights include:

New synthetic turf football/soccer field
New running track
New washroom facilities and plaza area

Joliet City of Minor League Baseball Stadium Drone 2 20180425

Joliet Minor League Baseball Park – Joliet, IL

Wight provided planning, engineering, estimating and construction management for the Joliet Slammers minor league baseball stadium renovation. Project involved removing the existing turf field and clay infield with new synthetic turf (over 132,000 SF). Relocation and replacement of the existing outfield wall to accommodate full size soccer field within the stadium to provide additional programming at the stadium.

C 2021 Kmiecik Imagery Romeoville High School HR P1749

Romeoville High School | Romeoville, IL

C 2021 Kmiecik Imagery Romeoville High School HR P1734

Romeoville High School | Romeoville, IL

Romeoville High School – Romeoville, IL

Wight provided integrated services to 40-year old Romeoville High School which was

desperately in need of improvements. The comprehensive renovations at provided a

learning environment comparable to a new facility.

Project highlights include:

Renovation of football field to artificial turf
Concession and locker room facility located within the stadium
New track and field facilities
Bleacher expansion with new press box
8 new tennis courts
Earth berm spectator sitting areas around baseball fields

Synthetic Turf Fields

Enduring, sustainable athletic facilities.