CarMax Park: A Next-Generation Fan and Player Experience
Recently opened in Richmond, Virginia, CarMax Park is the home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, and represents a transformational reimagining of the city’s minor league baseball experience. Replacing a more traditional, concrete-heavy stadium, the new ballpark was designed to bring fans closer to the action and create an engaging, year-round venue that serves players, spectators, and operators alike. From sunlit day games to vibrant evening matchups featuring the Flying Squirrels, the facility delivers a modern, immersive atmosphere that seamlessly blends baseball with dining, entertainment, and community gathering.
SSR served as the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEP/FP) engineer for CarMax Park, playing a critical role in bringing the vision to life. The stadium’s design, which features a sunken field and lower seating bowl, presented unique challenges that required a highly coordinated and flexible approach. SSR designed and integrated multiple HVAC system types to serve a wide range of spaces, from player locker rooms, training areas, and coaches’ facilities for the Flying Squirrels to concessions, suites, and VIP seating for fans. Careful coordination was required to route ductwork through fire-rated assemblies and large structural spans, all while maintaining comfort, performance, and code compliance throughout the concrete-intensive structure.
One of the most complex aspects of the project was managing humidity and environmental control within the poured-in-place concrete stadium. Exposure to rain, snow, and seasonal temperature swings meant the structure retained moisture that had to be carefully managed as conditions warmed. SSR’s mechanical design addressed this challenge with robust dehumidification strategies tailored to different areas of the facility. Additional precision was required in technology and IT spaces, including rooms with unusually strict temperature requirements, demanding close attention to system selection, controls, and redundancy. SSR also supported the extensive concession operations that are central to the Flying Squirrels fan experience, designing grease exhaust systems and ventilation for diverse food service offerings while ensuring safe, efficient performance on game days and beyond.
On the electrical and fire protection side, SSR delivered power distribution and life-safety systems to support stadium lighting, scoreboards, sound systems, and a technology-rich environment that enhances every Flying Squirrels home game. The design team coordinated power and infrastructure for large-format displays, broadcast functions, and year-round flexibility, including areas designed to host non-baseball events such as boxing, UFC, and other off-season programming. Fire protection systems were integrated throughout the facility to address complex layouts, high-occupancy spaces, and back-of-house operations, supporting both safety and operational efficiency.
Now open and actively in use, CarMax Park has been widely praised by fans, players, and venue staff alike for its comfort, visibility, and overall experience. For SSR, the project stands as a successful collaboration marked by extensive coordination, problem-solving, and technical excellence. CarMax Park not only elevates the game-day experience for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, but also showcases SSR’s ability to deliver high-performance MEP/FP solutions for modern, multi-use sports and entertainment facilities.