RPI '86 Field Redesign
Introduction
The goal of the '86 Field redesign was to create a quad-like recreational space for students with paths that visitors take to travel around campus. The '86 Field was once an athletics field. On September 29, 1906, the '86 Field hosted its first football game against the Albany Business College. RPI won the game by a score of 68-0. "Two fifteen-minute halves were played, and the contest devolved into an exhibition in which the 'Tech team tried out numerous substitutes." [The Polytechnic, 18 October 1906] The new field appears to have inspired the team and increased school spirit.
History
The field is named for the Class of 1886, whose members donated a $6,000 reunion gift in 1906 to build a sports field. This class also supported the new gymnasium, which was approved during their time at RPI and finished in 1887. Athletics at RPI was on the verge of extinction in the late 1880s, and students were constantly pleading with the administration to take action. The majority of outdoor games were held on leased fields in West Troy, which was both expensive and inconvenient. The '86 alumni wanted to make playing sports more accessible to RPI students. The athletic fields were then moved towards the center of campus and given the name '86 field.
Further Expansion
The 2008 football team was the last team to play on '86 field. After NCAA sports gained popularity at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the need for athletic expansion became apparent once again. The most extensive athletic construction project in Rensselaer history, ECAV was opened on October 3, 2009. It is home to nearly all RPI NCAA and intramural sports, as well as graduation ceremonies.