The Genessee Community College Cougars baseball team has four new dugouts thanks to Hy-Grade Precast Concrete Products of Byron, N.Y.

Hy-Grade (hygradeprecast.com) recently designed, produced, supplied and installed four custom dugouts painted in the college's signature blue and yellow. The dugouts are part of the college's athletic field expansion, which also included new baseball and softball diamonds, and a new artificial turf soccer/lacrosse field. These added amenities will enhance the growing Sports Management and Recreation Management programs offered.

Originally, the dugouts were specified as conventional block and wood construction. However, Hy-Grade approached the project team and suggested they consider precast as a consideration for the construction of the dugouts. While the cost remained the same, utilizing precast concrete shortened the construction time onsite significantly. Additionally, the superior durability of precast was especially attractive to the school officials because the dugouts are constantly exposed to the northern New York elements resulting in ongoing roof, wood and paint damage. Utilizing precast concrete would minimize such erosion.

The dugouts are made of Easi-Set precast, reinforced wall panels and roof slabs. The panels range in weight from 600 to 8,000 pounds and the roof slabs from 14,000 to 20,000 pounds. Each dugout measures 60 feet long, 8 feet wide and 10 feet high with a storage area on each end for player's equipment.