North Stadium Construction Update

Sound System
Work continues on the plan to move the stadium sound system to the towers on the East Stadium. The weight of the speakers is causing some adjustment in the design, but plans are being adjusted to accommodate them. Bernie Rempe PM with The Clark Enersen Partners is working with Durrell Acoustics and should have a plan for the temporary structure next week. The speakers will be in a temporary housing for this fall and will eventually be permanently located on the two towers of the East Stadium. The face of the speaker housing will allow an opportunity for advertising that is 12-feet-by-19-feet, in addition to a space on the sides 10-feet-by-12-feet.

Shrine Bowl Game ? July 24
A portable sound system will be used for emergency announcements. No one will be allowed to sit in the North or East stadiums. Rest rooms and concessions will be available in the South and West stadiums. Handicap seating will be available in the South and in Section 14.

Demolition
Work continues for another week and a half to clear the North Fieldhouse. Tons of earth were built up on the west side of the building so the pincher device could access the upper levels. Now that the upper portion has been demolished the soil - which has brick debris mixed with it - will be hauled to a landfill.

Inspections
Structural inspection of the existing stadium has been extensive. Three groups have confirmed that no structural damage has occurred to the stadium as the fieldhouse was demolished. Allied Survey monitored the position of the pillars and stadium beams before and after demolition with survey equipment. HWS Geotechnical Consultants made the comparison with video cameras and Dean Proknow, P.E. did a visual survey to make sure no damage was found. One handrail was slightly damaged on one of the ramps that will eventually come down, but no damage occurred to the structure.

Howard and Rhonda Hawks Championship Center ground
Earth work continues as the complicated process of packing down the soil properly is underway. Dust continues to be a problem for the construction workers and a water truck is on-site to keep moisture on the demolition debris. Daniel Almond of Millenium Field Turf Design is the expert overseeing the design and irrigation on the indoor field and the outdoor field that is also part of the project. He has designed many of the fields in our conference in addition to many NFL fields.

The next update will be Tuesday, July 20, when new artist renderings of the fieldhouse and Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex will be released.