Events Center construction still on track for December completion
Work on the Events Center is now 70 percent complete and on track for a Dec. 1 opening.
Construction crews continue to piece together the $21.5 million addition to Rose Arena, which has been in the works since last October.
The facility’s structural steel, precast walls, masonry, and its heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are all finished. Ongoing work is being carried out on the seating structure, bleachers, athletic wood floor and interior finishes, said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management.
Finish site grading, sidewalk work and landscaping were scheduled to commence this month, he said.
The Events Center will include a new glass entrance and lobby, a practice facility and student fitness center. Work on the fitness center cannot begin until the new wrestling room is complete at the beginning of December, Lawrence said.
Rose Arena’s seating capacity will remain around 5,200, but seats are being enhanced with cushioning. About 50 percent of the seats will be chairs, but bleacher seats are also being significantly improved for comfort, said Derek van der Merwe, senior associate athletic director.
“The focus was to enhance seating and not to increase the volume of seating,” he said.
The new lobby was also sorely needed, van der Merwe said. He predicted the new features will come along with an increase in attendance at sporting events this winter.
“Lobby areas are a critical component of any entertainment facility,” van der Merwe said. “The previous arena had no noticeable entry area that allowed for effective ticketing, organization and fan entertainment.”
Since the project began, construction crews have averaged about 45 workers per day, with a peak expected later next month.
