In the same way that sports are dynamic and evolving, their venues also need to keep up with the pace of change. And because it is not always desirable, practical and financially viable to build anew, refurbishment can breathe new life into existing, much-loved buildings.
Renovation offers a number of benefits over new build, from the urban: such as recharging a neighborhood, preserving historical venues, and retaining the benefits of existing central city sites with secured planning and parking; to the economic: such as increasing revenue streams, raising the profile of franchises, and potentially, just purely, offering a lower capital cost in construction than building new.
One of the National Football League’s most revered stadiums, Lambeau Field, had recently undergone one of the most radical face-lifts ever, designed by Ellerbe Becket, an AECOM Company, which was accomplished in two phases. Holding perhaps the last true “retro” look in the entire league, the renovation transformed a spartan, 60,000-seat stadium into a gleaming 71,500-seat stadium with state-of-the-art amenities for its patrons.
The project consisted of:
- Completely demolishing and rebuilding 174 luxury boxes;
- Replacing the press box;
- Adding 6,200 club seats and a club; and now
- Features a new, five-story “Titletown” atrium, located on the stadium’s east side, that hosts shops, restaurants, and the Packer Hall of Fame for year-round use of the facility.
The renovation also added new training facilities for NFL’s Green Bay Packers, new home and visitor locker rooms, and new administrative offices for the Packers. This was done while maintaining its heart—the original Lambeau Field seating bowl (and charm), and without missing a single home game during 28 months of construction.
Partners
M-E Engineers, Inc.: MEP Engineering | Turner Construction Company: Construction Manager | Hammes Company: Owner’s Representative | Somerville, Inc.: Associate Architect | Graef Anhalt Schloemer & Associates + Ellerbe Becket: Structural Engineering