Isabella Bank Fieldside Lounge creates a unique gathering space for special events, staff, families, alumni, and community partners
There is something special about experiencing a Friday night at Wallace Field. This fall, Hemlock Public School District is adding another way for people to gather, connect, and experience it together.
Hemlock Public School District is proud to announce Isabella Bank as the official sponsor of the Isabella Bank Fieldside Lounge, a newly transformed semi-private event space located alongside Wallace Field near the Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse.
Designed to create a unique fieldside experience, the Lounge features a serving bar with seating for a dozen or more guests, additional gathering space, a large sun screen, Edison-style lighting, and the district's new “Swag Shed.” Just steps from the field, the space provides a comfortable and distinctive setting for groups to gather while remaining connected to the energy of Huskie athletics.
Unlike traditional stadium seating, the Isabella Bank Fieldside Lounge was designed specifically as a hosted event space. Throughout the season, it will welcome different groups for staff and family gatherings, community events, alumni activities, special celebrations, and other district functions.
“Every improvement we make around our campus starts with thinking about the experience we are creating for people,” Superintendent Dr. Don Killingbeck said. “The Isabella Bank Fieldside Lounge is a great example. It is close to the action, but intimate enough that people can actually connect, visit, and enjoy being together. We aren't just trying to improve facilities. We are trying to create places where relationships and memories are built.”
That vision aligns closely with Isabella Bank's long-standing commitment to investing in the communities it serves.
“As a community bank, our commitment goes beyond providing financial services. It means investing in places and opportunities that help communities thrive,” said Jerome E. Schwind, President and CEO of Isabella Bank Corporation and CEO of Isabella Bank. “The Isabella Bank Fieldside Lounge will give people a new way to connect, celebrate, and enjoy the traditions that make Wallace Field such a special gathering place. We are honored to support Hemlock Public School District and the experiences this space will create for generations to come.”
The project is another example of how community partnerships are helping Hemlock Public School District turn ideas into opportunities and continue enhancing the experience for students, families, staff, and visitors.
“Isabella Bank has been a tremendous community partner, and we are incredibly grateful for their willingness to invest in something that is really about people,” Killingbeck added. “The physical space is great, but what excites me most is thinking about the conversations, celebrations, relationships, and memories that will happen there over the years.”
Board of Education President Matt Wesener said the partnership reflects the district's broader commitment to creating facilities that serve students while also strengthening connections throughout the community.
“Some of the best investments we can make are in spaces that bring people together,” Wesener said. “The Isabella Bank Fieldside Lounge gives us another opportunity to welcome families, recognize staff, connect with alumni and community partners, and celebrate the people who make Hemlock special. We are grateful to Isabella Bank for seeing the potential in this project and helping us bring it to life.”
The Lounge is already beginning to serve that purpose.
On Friday, September 11, the Isabella Bank Fieldside Lounge will be part of a special evening at Wallace Field as Hemlock hosts its Hall of Fame celebration and Staff and Family Tailgate at the space.
The September 11 event will provide an early glimpse of exactly what the Fieldside Lounge was intended to become: a place where people can gather, celebrate accomplishments, strengthen relationships, and enjoy the atmosphere of Wallace Field together.
Throughout the fall, additional groups will have opportunities to experience the Lounge as the district continues to explore creative ways to use the space. Future possibilities include receptions, recognition events, community gatherings, student and family activities, and special game-night experiences.
And the space will continue to evolve.
The serving bar opens the door to additional ideas for future events, including specialty refreshments, mocktails, dirty sodas, and other creative touches. Like many spaces across the Hemlock campus, district leaders expect to learn from how people use the Lounge and continue adding to the experience over time.
“This is one of those projects that started with an idea and became something better because people were willing to collaborate,” Killingbeck said. “We have an incredible community, and when organizations like Isabella Bank choose to partner with our schools, we can create opportunities that simply wouldn't happen otherwise.”
The Isabella Bank Fieldside Lounge joins a growing collection of gathering spaces around Wallace Field designed to enhance the overall experience for students, families, fans, staff, alumni, and community members while giving each space its own unique purpose and character.
Hemlock Public School District extends its sincere appreciation to Isabella Bank for its sponsorship, partnership, and continued investment in the Hemlock community.
Because sometimes the best part of the game isn't just what happens on the field. It's who you get to experience it with.
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