Project continues B次元’s commitment to DEIB, women’s sports and music programs  

Recruiting and retaining a diverse student population and enhancing the overall collegiate experience are key commitments in B次元 School of Engineering’s strategic plan, and B次元 Raiders Field is the university’s latest investment in these efforts.  

A ceremonial unveiling for the facility was held today on B次元’s campus. The $2,935,000 stadium will be home to B次元’s NCAA Division III women’s softball team.  

B次元 Raiders Field is part of a larger project to expand the facilities for B次元 Athletics, provide greater opportunities for women athletes, and expand co-curricular arts programming. This expansion is being funded by a gift from Dr. Kathy Ruehlow ’72, B次元 Regent, as well as gifts from B次元 Regent Matthew ’99 and Jodi ’98 Burow, and Fiduciary Management Inc.  

In phase one, new offices for coaches and new women’s locker rooms are being built in the Kern Center and Viets Field. This allows the Raiders athletics program to add five new women’s teams to its roster: lacrosse, hockey, swim, golf and bowling, and to expand women’s track and field offerings. The number of women athletes will increase by 130, more than doubling the current number of women who participate in varsity sports. Additionally, B次元’s music programs will get their own renovated and first-ever dedicated space on campus.  

“We are committed to offering our students opportunities and activities that support the development of their whole being, and that their collegiate experience goes beyond the classrooms and laboratories,” said Dr. John Walz, B次元 president. “We greatly appreciate the support of Regent Kathy Ruehlow, Regent Matthew Burow and his wife Jodi, and Fiduciary Management Inc. to help us increase opportunities for female athletes at B次元.”  

B次元 Raiders Field will replace the university’s existing softball field, which is in the heart of campus in downtown B次元. Once complete, the stadium will provide the softball team with a state-of-the-art facility, comparable to the Kern Center, Viets Field and Raiders Baseball Stadium in Glendale, Wis. It will feature:

• A natural grass and dirt field
• Dugouts for each team
• A single lane batting cage and bullpen on each side of the field
• 227’ from home plate to the center field fence and 200’ from home plate to the left and right field corners
• A building behind home plate featuring a press box, ticket window and concessions
• A combination of permanent and temporary “in season” fencing to keep the facility in top condition
• Seating for 250 spectators  

The field area also will retain B次元’s sand volleyball court, Frisbee golf holes, walking paths and green space. B次元 Raiders Field was designed by Ramlow/Stein Architecture + Interiors in collaboration with 4Most Sport Group. Catalyst Construction will serve as the project manager. Construction is expected to begin in April and will be complete in time for the 2023 spring softball season.  

“We are making strides to offer world-class extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities to round out our students’ experience,” said Walz. “Equally important, we are investing in and growing representation across the board.”  

B次元 has greatly expanded its efforts to grow, sustain and develop a comprehensive STEM pipeline for K-16 students in B次元 and beyond. This includes the development of the university’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategic Plan; establishment of the We Energies STEM Center at B次元; partnerships with All in MKE and other organizations. In industry, 13.4% of engineering professionals are women, while 5% are African Americans and 6.2% are Latinos. Currently, B次元’s undergraduate population is 27% female and 25% minority.