College Athletics Construction Roundup: May 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

Nevada will install new video boards at two facilities: Mackay Stadium and the Lawlor Events Center. The $3 million project will greatly improve the fan experience in the venues as both current scoreboards are at least 17 years old. In addition, both facilities will be outfitted with new production equipment and a studio to produce state-of-the-art imagery. The video boards’ installations will be completed for the 2016 season.

Virginia Tech has planned several facility improvements that will benefit almost every program. Rector Field House will add new locker rooms and training rooms. The Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center will see new team lounges and locker rooms. English Field will get additional seating capacity and expanded press boxes. Cassell Coliseum, Thompson Field, the Student-Athlete Development Suite and the weight room in the Hahn-Hurst Basketball Practice Facility are among other facilities in the list as well.

St. John’s has recently completed several projects. A new indoor golf training center was opened inside Carnesecca Arena featuring a putting green, indoor driving range and video analysis center. Taffner Fieldhouse also was renovated to include upgraded locker rooms and rebranding of several areas inside the venue.

Texas A&M will spend $68 million on new stadiums for the softball and track & field programs. The softball stadium will be able to seat 2,000 while the track & facility will have a 3,000 capacity. Both venues are expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

Toledo will conduct renovations on the Glass Bowl and Savage Arena. The Glass Bowl will add new restroom and concession areas and will replace the FieldTurf surface. The Savage Arena project will add new offices for the men’s and women’s basketball staffs and expand to allow for the possible addition of a training / nutrition table.

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Football

Liberty has begun construction on a new Indoor Practice Facility. The 90,000 square-foot facility will feature a 70-foot ceiling and full-size turf field. In addition to football, the $20 million facility is expected to host other Liberty programs as well as non-athletic events.

Oklahoma held its Topping-Off Ceremony for the south end zone renovation project. The project adds suites, loge boxes and club seats. The bowling-in of the end zone will be complete in time for the 2016 home opener. The team facilities will be completed over the course of the next off-season.

East Carolina released plans for renovations to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The $55 million Southside Renovation project includes the addition of 1,000 premium seats, club-level additions to enhance the game-day experience and a modernized press level. Construction is slated to begin following the final 2017 home game.

Purdue broke ground on a new football performance complex. The $60 million facility is expected to be completed by August 2017. The venue will feature locker rooms, a weight room, player development room and meeting rooms.

William and Mary is on schedule to complete renovations to Zable Stadium before the upcoming season begins. The $27 million project added an upper deck to the west-side stands that include a press box and suites. Additional restrooms and concession stands have also been added to the concourse.

Abilene Christian broke ground on a new on-campus stadium. Construction is expected to be complete by the beginning of the 2017 season.

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Basketball            

Indiana begins the final push on the $45 million renovations to Assembly Hall. When complete this fall concession stands and restrooms will be remodeled, building infrastructure will be updated, a new video board will be installed and the new Cuban media center will be added. Indiana officials say the project is on time and on budget.

Sam Houston State will spend $12 million to upgrade Johnson Coliseum. The project will upgrade the building’s HVAC and install a new hardwood floor. Other improvements include larger locker rooms, a bigger training area and a media room. Construction is expected to be completed this fall.

Portland State broke ground on the new $50 million Viking Pavilion. The project will include a new 3,000 seat arena in addition to 15,000 square-feet of study areas and lecture rooms. The arena is expected to be used by the basketball and volleyball programs as well as concerts and other non-athletic events. The building is scheduled to open in March 2018.

High Point University announced plans for a $70 million Arena and Conference Center. The 5,000 seat arena will include suites, locker rooms, office space, weight room, athletic training room and practice gym. The facility will be home to the basketball programs as well as host ceremonial events and other large gatherings.

St. Bonaventure will install a new video scoreboard in the Reilly Center. The project is expected to cost around $500,000.

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Olympic / Other Sports

Minnesota broke ground on locker room renovations in Mariucci Arena. The renovations will nearly double the team area. The project features a complete overhaul of the locker room, equipment room and athletic training area while adding a new team lounge and video room.

UCLA installed a new LED video display at Easton Stadium. The new scoreboard will feature 385 square feet of display space with wide-angle visibility to each seat in the stadium.

UCLA has secured a lead gift to be used towards a new soccer venue. The $10 million project will be completed in phases with construction scheduled to begin in the fall 2016. When complete the facility will include restrooms and a concession stand, two team and two auxiliary locker rooms, stadium lighting and capacity for 3,000.

Duke is set to begin construction on a new softball stadium. The stadium will feature locker rooms, indoor batting cages and seating for 500. Construction is expected to last 12 – 14 months and be available for the program’s inaugural season in 2018.

Washington University unveiled the new Putterman Scoreboard at the Tao Tennis Center. The board is 74’ long x 10’ high and features electronic names and scoring for all six courts.

Utah has taken preliminary steps to build a new on-campus baseball stadium. The new facility is expected to cost $7.5 million and would be located at the site of the current practice field. The stadium will provide a new home for the baseball program, which currently plays at the home of the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. Target completion would be in time for the 2018 season.

South Carolina is adding $1 million in improvements to Founders Park. The project will convert the existing media room into a players’ lounge while constructing a new media room and players’ meeting room.

Mercer University will construct a new baseball stadium on the Macon campus. The stadium will seat 1,500 fans and will include new dugouts, concession areas, restrooms, two open-air suites and a press box.

Long Beach State broke ground on the next phase of renovations at Blair Field. The Jared Weaver Bullpen, featuring three mounds, will be built beyond the right field fence. Additionally, the Tulowitzki Batting Facility will be constructed along the right field side of the field featuring six batting tunnels and 9,600 square feet of space.

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Academic & Multi-Use Facilities

Louisville is scheduled to open the Thorntons Academic Center for Excellence on July 4. The $19.5 million academic facility will house tutors and academic counselors, computer labs, a sports nutrition kitchen and 250-seat auditorium. The project was funded entirely through donations.

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Other Notes of Interest        

With speculation regarding the Oakland Raiders moving to Las Vegas, a new stadium would also serve as home to the UNLV football team. Raiders owner Mark Davis has said he would contribute $500 million to the proposed $1.6 billion stadium. Sam Boyd Stadium could possibly serve as a pre-season site for the Raiders, but would not be suitable for regular season home games.