AECOM upgrades State Farm Center with contemporary spaces, seating and technology

CHAMPAIGN, IL (Nov. 2) — State Farm Center, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s historic arena, has re-opened after a renovation designed by AECOM to introduce a full suite of modern amenities for student-athletes and fans. Targeting a LEED Gold certification, the upgrades complement a midcentury-modern design by Max Abramovitz that has been a defining feature of the campus for more than 50 years.

The men and women’s basketball teams will both play their regular season home opener games on Nov. 11. A rededication ceremony is scheduled for the 29th.

“We are excited to officially dedicate State Farm Center and to reintroduce the longstanding home of Illinois basketball to Illini Nation,” said Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman. “The facility has been transformed into one of the greatest venues in college basketball.”

The renovation redefined the entry and arrival experiences with new site circulation plans, a grand west-entry lobby and new premium east-entry lobby. It celebrated the building’s original design through sculptural structural elements and the use of circular and elliptical forms. A new, sloped, glass curtain wall surrounds the base of the building—an update to an original Abramovitz design concept that increases transparency and energy efficiency.

“The university trusted our team to renovate a building with a remarkable legacy,” said Greg Brown, AECOM’s project designer. “Our challenge was for State Farm Center to feel like an entirely new building in terms of the event experience for student-athletes and fans while feeling completely familiar in its architectural character.”

A redesigned seating bowl pulls fans closer to the action while integrating new courtside seats, suites, loge seats and four clubs, including one for the Orange Krush student group. New LED video boards, a new audio system, and wifi access points modernize the building. Air conditioning makes State Farm Center usable year-round for the first time. Additional restrooms and concessions further increase fan comfort.

New contemporary locker rooms, coaches’ locker rooms, a “ready room” for coaching and instruction, lounge space and training room serve both the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Additional service tunnels and storage space maximize operational efficiencies and increase the building’s availability for concerts and special events.

AECOM coordinated with the university and construction manager to implement the renovation in six phases over three years so that the Fighting Illini never missed a scheduled home game. AECOM services included: architecture, engineering (geotechnical, information technology and security), programming, interior design and cost consultancy.

About AECOM
AECOM is built to deliver a better world. We design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organizations in more than 150 countries. As a fully integrated firm, we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM had revenue of approximately $18 billion during fiscal year 2015. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.

AMERICAS 16-1101

Media Contact:
Erik Miller
Director, Corporate Communications
1.415.955.2804
erik.miller@aecom.com

Filter by:
All releases

Markets

Services

Year

Sort by: Newest | Oldest
13-Oct-2011 AECOM announced today that its master plan for the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games has been accepted by the city of Rio de Janeiro.
12-Oct-2011 AECOM announced today that it has been awarded two contracts worth a total value of US$14.1 million from the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO).
10-Oct-2011 AECOM is using Building Information Modeling (BIM) as part of the U.S. Army’s new Martin Army Community Hospital project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah district, in Fort Benning, Ga.
07-Oct-2011 Luigi (Lou) Bruno has joined AECOM as vice president of its Minerals and Metals practice within the firm’s North America mining business.
29-Sep-2011 AECOM announced that it was awarded a US$25-million contract from the City of Indianapolis to provide construction management services for the US$280-million Deep Rock Tunnel Connection (DRTC) and dewatering pump station in Indianapolis.
29-Sep-2011 AECOM announced today that it was awarded a US$25-million contract from the City of Indianapolis to provide construction management services for the US$280-million Deep Rock Tunnel Connection (DRTC) and dewatering pump station in Indianapolis.
28-Sep-2011 It’s not very often someone gets to play an integral part in preserving a piece of our history. But AECOM Archaeologist Erik Phaneuf is doing just that.
28-Sep-2011 Il n’arrive pas souvent qu’on puisse jouer un rôle essentiel dans la préservation d’un élément de notre histoire. Mais, Erik Phaneuf, archéologue d’AECOM, a fait juste cela.
28-Sep-2011 Doug Brown has joined AECOM as principle water technology leader of its Water Treatment practice within its water business in the Americas.
27-Sep-2011 AECOM will participate in the Ethisphere Institute’s “Ethics Drives Performance” conference tomorrow in New York City, hosted by NYSE Euronext.
22-Sep-2011 AECOM announced that it has been awarded a CA$4.6-million (US$4.8-million) contract by the Government of Alberta Ministry of Transportation for the Macleod Trail/Stoney Trail Interchange project in Calgary, Alberta.
21-Sep-2011 AECOM announced that Michael Della Rocca will assume the role of North America chief executive, effective Oct. 1, 2011. In this position, Della Rocca will lead AECOM’s operations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
21-Sep-2011 Bruce Dandie, P.E., has joined AECOM, as senior vice president of its North America Tunnel Ventilation practice within the transportation business.
20-Sep-2011 A team of 32 employees from Ontario, Canada, raised CDN$11,917 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation during the 24th annual Becel Ride for Heart corporate challenge event in June 2011.
15-Sep-2011 AECOM’s project management team for the Airport Expansion Program at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., participated in the annual “Christmas in July” fundraiser event to benefit homeless children living in Broward County.
14-Sep-2011 AECOM has been ranked number one on Consulting-Specifying Engineer (CSE) magazine’s MEP Giants list for 2011.
13-Sep-2011 AECOM announced that Donald D. Graul joined the company as senior vice president, global alternative delivery, for its Transportation business.
13-Sep-2011 The American Public Works Association recognized AECOM’s ability to successfully manage and administer public works projects while building a solid partnership between major stakeholders.
08-Sep-2011 AECOM announced today that it will be presenting at D.A. Davidson’s 10th annual Engineering and Construction Conference in San Francisco at the Omni Hotel.
07-Sep-2011 AECOM employees participate in a fundraiser, “Christmas in July” to benefit homeless children living in Broward County, Fla.
07-Sep-2011 AECOM announced today that Resolution Consultants Inc., a joint venture between AECOM and EnSafe Inc., was awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic.
01-Sep-2011 AECOM announced today that it has been awarded a US$35.5-million contract by the City of Edmonton, Canada, for its Southeast to West light rail transit (LRT) expansion.
30-Aug-2011 AECOM announced today that it was awarded a US$20-million services contract for the construction of the US$1.4-billion Ravensworth North mine expansion project in New South Wales, Australia.
17-Aug-2011 AECOM announced today that TEC-AECOM Pacific, a joint venture in which it participates with TEC Inc., has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, worth up to US$50 million, from the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
16-Aug-2011 AECOM announced today that a joint venture in which it participates with Parsons has been awarded a US$150-million program-management contract by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).
16-Aug-2011 AECOM announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of its common stock.
15-Aug-2011 AECOM is using phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) — an advanced method of ultrasonic testing — to reduce inspection times and deliver more accurate results. The emerging technology makes it easier to inspect components with complex geometry and increases the chance of detecting defects.
10-Aug-2011 AECOM announced today that it has won a task order contract from the U.S. Air Force for Contract Field Teams (CFT) worth up to US$30 million, if all options are exercised.
09-Aug-2011 AECOM announced today that it has been awarded a design and construction management contract for the US$66-million Dugway West Interceptor Relief Sewer in the Cleveland area. AECOM’s total fees are worth approximately US$10 million.
04-Aug-2011 AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM), a leading provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients around the world, announced today its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30, 2011.  
01-Aug-2011 AECOM is using Building Information Modeling (BIM) as part of the Calgary International Airport (YYC) International Facilities Project (IFP) in Canada.
27-Jul-2011 AECOM’s Teuila Hanson, vice president, Diversity + Inclusion, led a workshop at the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials’ (COMTO) 40th National Meeting and Training Conference on July 17 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. COMTO creates new career opportunities for minority transportation professionals in the United States through education, training and development programs.
26-Jul-2011 AECOM announced today that an AECOM-led consortium was awarded a contract by the New South Wales Government to plan and design the North West Rail Link in Sydney, Australia.
21-Jul-2011 Approximately 70 AECOM employees ran a 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) race as part of the 35th annual JPMorgan Corporate Challenge in New York City, New York, United States.
20-Jul-2011 An AECOM team in Los Angeles County, California, United States, took fast action when a serious traffic accident occurred near their job site.
‹ Page 20 of 23 ›