Hope College’s Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts have been chosen the Outdoor Tennis Court of the Year by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA).
The 12-court, outdoor facility at the Etheridge Tennis Complex was selected out of 14 distinguished tennis facilities in the United States honored this summer by the ASBA’s annual awards program, which helps promote the highest standards of construction by recognizing excellence in design, construction and renovation in the sports facility industry.
The Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts, which opened in 2012, features elevated seating for spectators. They are designed for competition, instruction and casual play alike.
SEE PHOTOS OF VANDE POEL-HEERINGA STADIUM COURTS
The Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts were made possible through many generous gifts, including from the families of former Hope doubles partners Earle Vande Poel ‘35 and George Heeringa ‘36, for whom the facility is named.
The Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts are making a significant impact, DeWitt Tennis Center manager Jorge Capestany said.
“The state-of-the-art Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts have already made a difference in recruiting, lesson programs and enjoyment for the Hope tennis community,” Capestany said. “College players, juniors and tournament players are all enjoying the amazing new complex with world-class viewing. Perhaps the biggest benefit is to those who attend the Hope College Summer Tennis Academy because they are there a full 25 hours a week in the new facility which offers an incredible learning environment.”
Architectural design for Vande Poel-Heeringa Stadium Courts was by GMB Architects and Engineers of Holland, in consultation with Alex Levitsky of Global Sports and Tennis Design Group of Fair Haven, N.Y. The construction manager was GDK Construction of Holland.
Earlier, the ASBA also recognized Ray & Sue Smith Stadium, Hope’s home for football, as one of 15 Distinguished Single Field Facilities. GMB Architects were the design architects for the renovations to Ray & Sue Smith Stadium.
The ASBA is a national, non-profit organization for builders, designers and suppliers of materials for tennis courts, running tracks, synthetic turf fields, and indoor and outdoor synthetic sports surfaces.