Coming next is a combination of construction, renovation and outdoor work, which will double the size of the fitness center, upgrade locker rooms, create a teaching kitchen, add a dedicated administrative wing with conference space, create a new 8,600-sq-ft ADA-accessible lobby and welcome center with a ground-level pro shop and construct two new tennis courts outside.

The project’s first two phases included an indoor enrichment program area and a new nurse’s office.
Photo by Gregg Shupe

“There are a lot of different types of pieces we usually see on different jobs, a renovation piece, new structure and outdoor work,” says Jacqueline Maloney, Kaplan project manager for the new phases. “We are used to doing all of those things, but the interesting thing is adding them all to one job, one overall scope of work.”

This all comes after the completion of the first two phases, a $6.6 million project that kicked off in October 2023 with a new 24,000-sq-ft prefabricated building to house four additional tennis courts, new frost wall foundations, site drainage, lighting for outdoor courts and renovations on an indoor enrichment program area.

The new phases feature infilling between existing buildings with a new connector structure. Maloney says managing the existing conditions and accounting for conditions not shown on the drawings will present unexpected challenges. Given the numerous specialized tasks—ranging from waterproofing details and an acoustic deck over steel to glazed windows—and the relatively small size of the spaces, construction will proceed swiftly through each building, requiring her to have all materials prepared and on hand.

The project’s final two phases come after the completion the first two phases, a $6.6 million project including a 24,000-sq-ft prefabricated building to house four additional tennis courts.
Photo courtesy Kaplan Construction

Nate Peck, Kaplan owner and president, who was named to ENR’s national Top 20 Under 40 list in 2018, says the project’s challenge is joining the renovated areas and built portions to “existing structures and all the exterior work that is happening while maintaining a fully operational facility.”

Kaplan will also construct two outdoor courts, which require an underground stormwater system.

“This project is about more than adding square footage or courts,” says Toni Wiley, Sportsmen’s CEO. “It is about building the infrastructure we need to fully deliver on our mission as a National Junior Tennis and Learning organization. The expansion allows us to integrate education, health and tennis in a way that is accessible, welcoming and sustainable for our community.”

Kaplan came to the project nearly two years after an initial bid. Another contractor was selected but couldn’t move forward, prompting Sportsmen’s to call Kaplan back. “I think they are glad they did,” Peck says. “It is working out really well."

The previous two phases of the project involved constructing new frost wall foundations.
Photo courtesy Kaplan Construction

The first phase brought with it an unexpected challenge: About a month before construction started, Kaplan’s team identified that the 4-ft frost walls under the courts were uneven, posing risks to the courts and the building. “We had an ‘Oh, man, this is a big issue here, what are we going to do?’ moment,” says Sean Lepore, Kaplan project manager for the first two phases.

To address the issue, corrective measures included pouring cast-in-place curbs atop the existing walls to gradually adjust the slope. An additional grading issue in the northeast corner, due to an HVAC tunnel, required selectively removing portions of the cast-in-place concrete and incorporating other elements into the structural design to reduce the foundation scope cost and speed delivery. Rather than pour all-new foundations, Kaplan strategically cut, modified and reinforced the existing foundation to support the new building loads.

Lepore says the modifications created a ripple effect throughout the project and Kaplan stepped in to rework the design as the scope evolved.

With on-site experience, Lepore says they can take lessons learned into the next phases, especially when it comes to modifying prefabricated building structures and the logistics of working on site, including ensuring the center remains fully operational throughout the project.

While erecting the new tennis court building the project team also performed site drainage work.
Photo courtesy Kaplan Construction

“We heard from so many members who said they didn’t know we were there, there was nothing tracked through the building [boots were fully cleaned before entering non-construction zones] and there was no construction debris,” Peck says. “Things were being built around them and they couldn’t see it being done.”

The club agrees. “Kaplan Construction’s expertise in navigating these complex projects within an active and occupied facility was essential,” Wiley says, “allowing us to continue serving our members throughout the process.”

Kaplan anticipates finishing the final phases in January 2027, but aims to have some spaces completed early, including interior bathrooms. “We need to keep people playing tennis,” Maloney says, “while our entire operation is going on.”