Homepage

Back

Summer 2003

Archives

As I strolled around the concourse and through the Phillies clubhouse of Philadelphia’s brand new Citizen’s Bank Park, I felt a sense of relief that I would never have to watch another game in the old, dilapidated Veteran’s Stadium. The man escorting me around was responsible for orchestrating the entire project. John Stranix, a ‘78 Villanova Civil Engineering grad is the project manager, hired by the Philadelphia Phillies to organize and oversee the architectural and construction aspects of the new baseball stadium.

Prior to earning his masters in Civil Engineering at Penn State, Stranix was greatly influenced by several individuals at Villanova. Dean Lynch, Dr. Cieselski, and Dr. MacAssey were all inspirational figures in his life. Whether it was personality or teaching hard work, each of them have set an example that Stranix has benefited from. He summarized their influences by saying, “They were all important people that [he] encountered during a very formative time in [his] life”.

Stranix was introduced to the Phillies project “when it was an idea” in the planning stages in the mid ‘90’s, but got completely involved in 1999. He is responsible for taking the Phillies’ vision and making it a reality. The reality is now complete, and is one of the most “state of the art” stadiums in the country. It is perhaps the most fan-friendly and comfortable environment that Philadelphians have ever experienced with their baseball team.

Fewer seats, nicer facilities, more accessibility, and more entertainment are the general improvements related to the new stadium. Stranix managed the operations and contracts associated with the improvements. It was his job to hire the companies that worked on the project, as well as to get them all on the same page.

The new park features a smaller, more comfortable environment with about 20,000 fewer seats than the old one. It is built in a fashion similar to the revolutionary Camden Yards in Baltimore. It has larger clubhouses for the players, which include huge locker rooms, a full service kitchen, and a hydrotherapy room. In addition, it features the “Diamond Club” which is a VIP area with views of each team’s batting cages for the 1100 seats behind home plate. There also is an entertainment area beyond the outfield wall called “Ashburn Alley”, as well as the largest videoboard in America.

As with most project management companies, his company Stranix Associates works on several projects at a time. In the past, he has been involved with developments of sports venues, hotels, office buildings, and industrial and marine facilities. His direction of the MCI Center project in Washington, DC was the other major sports venture which he oversaw throughout the entire life cycle of the project.

Stranix prefers larger projects because they “bring people together with very diverse needs and goals”. His office is on the edge of the construction site of the stadium so that he is able to ensure that everything is running smoothly and efficiently. He plans to remain on the project through the summer to close out contracts with the companies involved, as well as to oversee the destruction and removal of the old Veteran’s Stadium.

This new park has carried some extra sentimental meaning for Stranix. He explained, “this is a great project because I grew up here. For me to work for the team I followed my whole life is a remarkable experience.” Now, today’s youth in Philadelphia can grow up watching their team play in a beautiful new stadium, and they can have quite a remarkable experience themselves.