Abessinio Stadium recently received the prestigious Design Excellence Award from the Delaware chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Delaware). The stadium has been hailed as a transformative public-private partnership project between Salesianum School and the City of Wilmington. Formerly the site of Baynard Stadium, the new complex was opened in 2020 and stands as a state-of-the-art regional venue for a wide range of athletic and community events while also housing offices for Delaware State Park's Wilmington operations. ABHA Architects, Wilmington, managed the stadium's planning and design process.

The award was based on a specific set of criteria for design excellence, including the integration of design into its setting, accessibility, repurposing of existing materials, and encouraging health and well-being in the community. The award was accepted by Salesianum's President, Dr. Thomas Kardish, and representatives from ABHA Architects and Whiting-Turner Construction. ABHA's Carl Krienen, AIA, served as the project's principal architect, and Sean Malloy, AIA as the project architect. Carl and Sean are 1985 and 2004 graduates of Salesianum School, respectively. 

Salesianum President Dr. Thomas Kardish noted, "I'm thrilled that the stadium's innovative design was recognized by the AIA. It's particularly gratifying when a facility's beauty matches its utility, and we're grateful to our ABHA partners for making it happen." ABHA's success is recognized for its leadership in helping to strengthen communities through design excellence, which is reflected in its high number of repeat projects and ongoing client relationships since its founding in 1949. 

Based in Washington, D.C., the AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. It serves as the voice of the architecture profession and the resource for members in service to society. AIA has 96,000 members and more than 200 chapters globally.

This is the second award that our stadium has received. In 2021, it was awarded the ASBA Outstanding Track & Field Facility of the Year.