College Athletics Construction Roundup: July 2016

The “College Athletics Construction Roundup” is a monthly series on the construction of intercollegiate athletics facilities. Each month we’ll provide a list of announced, in progress and recently completed athletic construction projects from around the country. You can view previous editions of the “College Athletics Construction Roundup” here.

Master Plan

Pitt has partnered with Populous to begin the master planning process. The planning effort is expected to last nine months and include an athletic-specific student services building and student-athlete training table facility.

Siena will begin a $13.5 million, multi-phase renovation to the Alumni Recreation Center and Marcelle Athletic Complex. The project includes a practice court for the basketball programs, the relocation of indoor hitting cages for baseball and softball and a new student-athlete strength and conditioning area. All phases should be complete by the Fall of 2018.

The Citadel approved $33 million in improvements and new facilities. The plan calls for upgrades to McAlister Field House and the track & football practice facility, as well as the addition of a new 95,000 square-foot building. The new athletics building will house a weight room, locker rooms, meeting and conference rooms, office space and a student lounge area.

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Football

Auburn continues to evaluate the feasibility of renovations at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Athletic Department is working on due diligence to determine the demand for additional seating. Expanded concourses, additional concessions, new locker rooms and new video boards are among the amenities included in the $145 million project.

Old Dominion approved the $55 million plan to rebuild Foreman Field at Ballard Stadium. The new stadium will have a slightly larger capacity at 22,130 and also include a more open concourse, additional concession areas and more restrooms. The new facility will also allow for future expansion to 30,000 seats. The project is expected to begin after the 2018 season and be ready for the 2019 season opener.

Southern Miss is nearing completion on its locker room renovation project, which began this past spring. The project is part of a larger $1.6 million effort that also included a weight room expansion and nutrition center. The locker room is expected to be completed in time for when the team reports in August.

Michigan State will install a permanent LED lighting system on Spartan Stadium. The $2.5 million project will begin after this season and be ready for the 2017 season. Spartan Stadium is currently one of three Big Ten stadiums without permanent lighting fixtures. The school currently spends $65,000 per game for temporary lights to be brought in for late kickoffs.

Arkansas approved a $160 million renovation to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The project features a north end zone addition with premium seating, concessions, and restrooms. Other improvements include updates to existing suite and club areas and a new video board on the south end of the stadium.

Indiana approved a $53 million proposal to enclose the south end of Memorial Stadium. The facility will add over 66,000 square-feet of space and will include a new rehabilitation & treatment facility for student-athletes and academic & life skills support facilities.

Buffalo will install new turf at UB Stadium this summer to reflect the university’s new brand strategy. The turf will display the new interlocking UB at midfield and the new wordmark ‘Buffalo’ in the end zones.

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Basketball            

Northwestern announced a $110 million renovation to the 63-year old Welsh-Ryan Arena. While capacity will be slightly reduced as chair-back seating replaces the wooden bleachers other improvements will include an expanded lobby, new restroom and concession areas, new lighting, coaches’ offices and refurbished locker rooms. The renovated facility is expected to open for the 2018-19 season.

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Olympic / Other Sports

San Francisco will install new turf at Negoesco Stadium. The new turf will feature a ‘green’ natural infill and will be in place for the men’s soccer exhibition match in August.

Brown began construction of the new $5 million baseball and softball complex. The project will include turf fields, new scoreboard and press boxes, sunken dugouts and expanded batting tunnels and bullpens.

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Academic & Multi-Use Facilities

Florida unveiled the new $25 million Hawkins Center for Academic and Personal Excellence. The new facility includes two computer labs, studying rooms & tutoring areas, academic support & advising offices, a nutrition suite and 2,000 square-foot auditorium.

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Other Notes of Interest        

Georgia Tech will spend $1.5 million to replace the video board above the south end zone at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The old video board has been emitting a frequency that was disrupting data reception on fans’ mobile phones. The school opted to replace the aging video board rather than only address the signal issue.