ALABAMA STATE EDITION
231
65
72 Florence
2
Huntsville
20 Decatur
72
565 59
43
A Supplement to:
231
431
31
5
Gadsden
78 59 Anniston
20
Birmingham Bessemer
82 Tuscaloosa
65 280
20 82 Auburn
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80
85
Selma
Phenix City
Montgomery
82
October 12 2016
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43 84 431 331
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Vol. XXIX • No. 21
31
45
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”
Dothan
65 98
Mobile
10
Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479
Brasfield & Gorrie photo
Corey Collier, Brasfield & Gorrie project manager, said the site is currently being prepared for construction.
After Years of Waiting, Hoover Sports Center Rises By Cindy Riley
Expected to cost $76 million, the new Hoover sports and Events Center will feature an indoor facility, outdoor sports fields, a tennis complex and an rV park expansion when it opens, in part, next spring. the complex will be built adjacent to the Hoover Metropolitan stadium on 120 acres in Birmingham, Ala. “the new sports complex in Hoover is important for the addition of a new sports venue for the community,” said Allen pate, executive director of the city of Hoover. “the facility will also provide a destination for out-of-town visitors for a variety of activities and events that will serve as an economic engine for the city.” sports Facilities Management has been hired to manage the complex. pate said the highly anticipated project has been in the making for a while. A new sports park had not been built in Hoover since 2000. “It was important to create a new facility that would alleviate the overcrowding at existing parks, while also creating a destination for tourists.” the facility will have enough clear-span space for almost a dozen regulation-size basketball courts or 17 regulationsize volleyball courts, or trade shows for 300 booths or 2,400 seat banquets and seating for 5,000. drop down netting will provide the option to divide spacing within the center. the outdoor portion of the facility will include five nCAA regulation-size soccer/football/lacrosse fields, as
CEG CorrEspondEnt
well as nCAA regulation-size baseball/softball fields and tennis courts with a pro shop. the existing rV park will expand from 149 to 172 spaces, with full hook-ups. Additional parking will provide approximately 5,000 spaces on site. pate said this new facility will serve the youth and adults of the city, in addition to serving as a destination for visitors of all ages for many years to come. “phase one of the project includes the indoor facility, as well as the rV park extension. this aspect of the project must be completed by May, 2017, in order to meet requirements for the sEC Baseball tournament. With this tight timeline, it’s imperative we stay on track to open in May, as planned.” pate also said that feedback has been positive, so far. Brasfield & Gorrie serves as construction manager of the complex. Corey Collier, Brasfield & Gorrie project manager, said the site is currently being prepared for construction. At this stage, the work includes site grading, foundation preparation and storm pipe utility installation. “We have an accelerated design and construction schedule,” said Collier. “since the project has several building components, we are carefully mapping our construction sequencing activity. due to the existing utility infrastructure, we are working very closely with all the appropriate utility companies to safely relocate existing systems. decisions involving relocation have potential impacts on construction
methods, schedules and cost.” the project team also is working closely with authorities to identify any environmental concerns and satisfy permitting requirements. “We have yet to begin construction on a pre-engineered metal building, event center build-out and the rV parking lot expansion. We expect to award contracts soon for additional site grading and the rV parking lot expansion,” said Collier. Equipment being used on the job includes laser screed machine for large slab on grade pours, a 210 excavator with a hoe ram attachment to remove existing rock from footing foundations, a 300 Hd excavator for digging footing foundations, a skid steer to move various stone materials, a sheepsfoot roller for subgrade compaction and a motor grader to help establish subgrade elevations. Collier said weather is definitely a factor right now. “during the summer months, we adjusted our schedule to reduce the impact of rainfall on mass grading activities.” Construction crews must complete a performance center with theater-style seating, meeting rooms, a kitchen, four clay and 12 hard surface tennis courts, a tennis shop, playground and splash lawn, basketball and volleyball courts, locker rooms, a walking track, food court, convenience store and a climbing attraction. A removable athletic floor and retractable nets for basketball and volleyball games also will see HOOVER page 6