Construction on the US$86m project to renovate and expand Nippert Stadium is approaching completion.
According to the University of Cincinnati (UC), the access road on the west sideline and tarp has been removed from the playing surface exposing the stadium turf for the first time since December 2013. The field, installed prior to the 2013 campaign, has been recently groomed and will be inspected in the coming weeks for any deficiencies brought on by the construction project.
The west side press box structure is almost completely enclosed by glass, and metal finishing work has begun on the exterior shell. Cabinetry and woodwork is underway on the press and suite levels along with tiling, primer, flooring and painting in the back of house areas.
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing work is ongoing on each of the five floors with furnishings, fixtures, equipment and finishes work slated to begin in the near future. Grey cushioned seating has been installed on the scholarship club level, and seating and fixtures for the patio suite and suite levels have arrived on site. The skywalk to the Tangeman University Center has been installed and the final step of establishing the club entrance from TUC will take place later this summer.
The new press box structure on the west side stretches for almost 130 yards and rises five stories above the stadium concourse. The curvature of the facility matches Herschede-Shank Pavilion on the east side of the stadium and contains four levels: a press and operations level, suite level, patio suites mezzanine level and a scholarship club level. UC will go from having nearly no premium seating options to the addition of 1,100 scholarship club seats and 53 indoor and outdoor suites of varying sizes.
Three new lighting poles have been installed along with new lights on existing poles and on the roof facing of the press box. The new ribbon boards for the east and west façade of the seating bowls are en route to Cincinnati and will be installed in the near future. The new boards will provide enhanced gameday features, including statistics, graphics, out-of-town scores and more.
On the east side, concessions and restroom buildings have been built on O’Varsity Way near the Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center. A second deck has been attached to the back of Herschede-Shank Pavilion for fan access to the upper seating bowl, and a skywalk connecting the deck to the gameday plaza has been erected.
New concession stands and restrooms have been created on the east concourse level, and plumbing and kitchen equipment installation is underway.
UC played its 2014 campaign at Paul Brown Stadium downtown. The 2015 season marks the 100th anniversary of original construction on the facility.
Working in conjunction with UC’s Office of Planning, Design and Construction, the Architect of Record for the project is Heery International. Architecture Research Office is the design architect and Turner Construction Company the construction manager.
June 5, 2015
Pic: Courtesy of FRCH Design Worldwide
