Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
March 14, 2008, Washington Post

Architect Provides a Nats'-Eye View

As senior project designer for Nationals Park, Jim Chibnall is one of the architects who imagined and designed Washington's new, 41,000-seat baseball stadium. He made sure that the ballpark, which opens this month, was built just right.

Chibnall, 47, grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, rooting for the Cardinals. So it was "a dream come true," he says, also to have been senior project designer for that team's new Busch Stadium, which opened in 2006.

I talked with Chibnall about how he got to be a designer of baseball parks.

What did you like to do as a kid?

"I grew up in a big family [six brothers, two sisters], so we played outside a lot. We would go exploring and fishing in the city parks. We were always building things like forts from things that we found in the dumpster. I also liked playing sports. I played baseball in high school."

Did you like to draw?

"I loved it. I would make pencil drawings of tanks, airplanes, cars -- anything that moved. I think drawing helped me in school because it opened up my creativity."

Did you go to baseball games whe you were young?

"Yes. My brothers and I would get on a bus called the Redbird Express and go to the old Busch Stadium and watch the Cardinals play. I remember being very impressed with the canopy on the top of the stadium. It had beautiful arches that looked like the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

When did you know you wanted to be an architect?

"When I was a senior in high school I received a book about architecture as a gift. It showed the different styles of architecture and famous buildings. Architecture seemed to be something that brought together things I liked, such as drawing and history."

What did you learn as a kid that helps you now as an architect?

"I would say my approach to my studies and my willingness to see education as fun and interesting. My parents were only high school graduates, but they helped all their children see that education was important and the way you could do whatever you wanted in life."

What is different about building a baseball stadium than other buildings?

"Most buildings are similar, especially on the inside. But baseball stadiums have a much greater variety of shapes and designs. And millions of people use a baseball stadium in a year. That's fun."

Were there any special problems in designing Nationals Park?

"The biggest problem was making the ballpark look like it belonged in Washington, D.C. So we spent a lot of time walking around the city looking at the monuments and museums. Most of those places have beautiful, simple shapes."

What would you like kids to notice about the new ballpark?

"You can walk around the concourse and not lose sight of the playing field. Also, the shape of the outfield is very interesting. I think kids will enjoy the 14-foot-high scoreboard in right field. There are lots of special places where you can look out and see the city.

"But the most important thing is to come down and experience the building. I think people will like this building and call it their home away from home for years to come."

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's sports opinion column and is an author of sports novels for kids.

© 2007 The Washington Post Company