Pregame: The Assembly Hall Renovation Project

[IlliniBob89]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I wonder what happened to proposed grand connection between the south end of Memorial Stadium and the Hall?

If this is re-Assembly of the Hall, maybe that will be Illinois Renaissance - Part Deux?

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I wonder what happened to proposed grand connection between the south end of Memorial Stadium and the Hall?

Maybe nothing. With everything being totally conceptual at this point, there is probably little that is isn't off the table.

BTW, don't put too much weight on BW's comments on the renovation. There may be options being discussed that may not be feasible from an engineering or financial perspective that won't be known until the final proposal is in.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by chief3469

He said he regrets not red shirting Tisdale and Davis, they were probably too raw early in their careers here.

I think almost every big man would benefit from a redshirt year, but the non medical redshirts have gone the way of the dodo bird.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by illinicb

Maybe nothing. With everything being totally conceptual at this point, there is probably little that is isn't off the table.

BTW, don't put too much weight on BW's comments on the renovation. There may be options being discussed that may not be feasible from an engineering or financial perspective that won't be known until the final proposal is in.

As long as they drop the floor for better student seating and a more intense environment, I'm happy.

[jackman404]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

As long as they drop the floor for better student seating and a more intense environment, I'm happy.

Agreed. I don't like that capacity will likely drop because of suites being built, but putting students on the floor to help create our home court advantage is all I really want.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by jackman404

but putting students on the floor to help create our home court advantage is all I really want.

Over the last 20 or so years, I think Illinois has a pretty good home court record, so I'm not sure there will be much of an increase in home court advantage, whatever that means. Probably true of most of the upper tier Big Ten teams.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by illinicb

Over the last 20 or so years, I think Illinois has a pretty good home court record, so I'm not sure there will be much of an increase in home court advantage, whatever that means. Probably true of most of the upper tier Big Ten teams.

While we have a pretty good home court record, I don't think the Hall is as intimidating as Kohl, the IU Hall, Breslin, etc... The Illinois court has to be really into it for the Hall to rock given how far everyone is from the court. In good years, I don't think it will make much difference--the crowd will be going nuts regardless. But in intermediate years, a reconfiguration could give us a lift, putting the loudest folks close to the court.

[chief3469]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

While we have a pretty good home court record, I don't think the Hall is as intimidating as Kohl, the IU Hall, Breslin, etc... The Illinois court has to be really into it for the Hall to rock given how far everyone is from the court. In good years, I don't think it will make much difference--the crowd will be going nuts regardless. But in intermediate years, a reconfiguration could give us a lift, putting the loudest folks close to the court.

that will depend if the loudest people are willing to pay the most money. I doubt that the best seats will be given to people paying little money but who knows.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

As long as they drop the floor for better student seating and a more intense environment, I'm happy.

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

But in intermediate years, a reconfiguration could give us a lift, putting the loudest folks close to the court.

Originally Posted by chief3469

that will depend if the loudest people are willing to pay the most money. I doubt that the best seats will be given to people paying little money but who knows.

See above, dropping the floor moves the loudest (students/Krush) to be the closest. We'll increase the number of students surrounding the court and they'll be able to stand/bounce/yell the whole game without blocking the view of those "paying the most" to get the good seats in section A.

[doho19]

Originally Posted by chief3469

He was very specific in talking about the entryway on the EAST not west side of the building. He said it would possibly stretch all the way to the Belfieldt Building requiring the removal of 4th street. They would put in the ever-so-coveted Illini Basketball Hall of Fame, a meeting place for Orange Krush to wait before games instead of having to stand out in the cold as well as a general lobby area for public fans.

Here is my question if Bruce knows what he is talking about...

Why would you put this wonderful grand entrance on the east side of AH when 95% of your parking is on the west side?

Why would I walk around the building in Dec/Jan/Feb from my car just to walk in this wonderful eutopia of Illini basketball?

Even now those who have tickets on that side go in the west side and walk around inside becuase its 20 degrees outside.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by doho19

Here is my question if Bruce knows what he is talking about...

Why would you put this wonderful grand entrance on the east side of AH when 95% of your parking is on the west side?

Why would I walk around the building in Dec/Jan/Feb from my car just to walk in this wonderful eutopia of Illini basketball?

Even now those who have tickets on that side go in the west side and walk around inside becuase its 20 degrees outside.

Well that is a good point. 5,000-vehicle parking deck FTW (or maybe just purchase the downtown Champaign deck and helicopter it over)

[IlliniOllie]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I wonder what happened to proposed grand connection between the south end of Memorial Stadium and the Hall?

"During the third summer they would work on C section to improve it (he was very vague about that) "

They'll run out of money and not do anything to section C. 99.98% chance. It'll be the East Stands and Balcony part II.

And the connection between the south end of Memorial Stadium? There aren't any luxury boxes in the Horseshoe. Why would Ron Guenther care about doing anything there? Fuggetaboutit.

Just wait. Two years into the project, Guenther & Co. will be trumpeting about how the project is complete and how great it is, and the fans in section C will have nothing to show for it. Lock.

[Dan]

Tate: Hall work a ways off

So the first step, which began three weeks ago, was to put out a call for a construction manager, reduce the list of applicants to three or four, and hold interviews in late May.

After hiring a construction manager, the next step is to evaluate architect design companies in much the same way, again reduce the list to three or four, analyze their concepts,and get one under contract by July. Then the architects/engineers and construction manager can work on a conceptual design that will answer the questions above.

All this will be completed before the final fund-raising push, and the university won't be called on for approval until 80 percent of the money is under contract. Some has been promised already, and a great deal more must be raised. How much? My best guess: a lot.

Tate

[IlliniOllie]

"Dana Brenner, point man for athletic director Ron Guenther in this massive project, says knowledge gained from the Memorial Stadium renovation taught valuable lessons. One is to not get ahead of yourself. "

So maybe they actually learned the lesson that promising everyone great things to sell a project and then only doing half of it isn't a good idea? Hooray!

Now, hopefully they'll not only learn from the lesson, but actually finish Memorial Stadium, too.

[Dan]

Update.

We have a construction manager ($429,789):
# Turner Construction Company

We have four architecture firms set to submit design proposals ($75,000 each):
# BLDD Architects, Inc., Champaign, IL
# AECOM Services of Illinois, Chicago, IL
# Cannon Design, Inc., Chicago, IL
# Populous, Inc., Kansas City, MO

[katu06]

Based off of the portfolios, I'm pretty impressed by Populous Inc.

[danielb927]

Originally Posted by katu06

Based off of the portfolios, I'm pretty impressed by Populous Inc.

Getting Assembly Hall redesigned by the same architect as the 2010 world cup centerpiece stadium would be pretty cool.

[LubbockIlliniFan]

living in KC, Populous is a major player in building sport stadiums. I am positive they would do a fantastic job with the Hall.

[ill07]

Originally Posted by kcillinifan

living in KC, Populous is a major player in building sport stadiums. I am positive they would do a fantastic job with the Hall.

They did the Kohl Center as well; their portfolio looks very impressive.

That being said, while I want the job to go to the firm that will do the best job, I hope that firm happens to be an Illinois business.

[TyinLex]

Populous (HOK Sports) is the leading architecture firm in the all of sport stadium design and construction. They typically start from the build on projects, so their inclusion into the bidding process should really boost Illini fans expectations. They design some of the gravity defining sport structures in the world. Alot of baseball stadiums (Busch Stadium) in the US and mostly Soccer/Cricket stadiums in Europe. Pumped up

[Shief]

I really hope that when the designs are submitted they are going to be shown to fans before they choose the winning design. Don't let everyday fan reactions sway the decision but let us see what they come up with. I have a vision in my head I would like to see but I don't think the existing structure could be altered to handle my idea.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by kcillinifan

living in KC, Populous is a major player in building sport stadiums. I am positive they would do a fantastic job with the Hall.

Is this the old HOK firm or some offshoot of it?

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by Shief

I really hope that when the designs are submitted they are going to be shown to fans before they choose the winning design.

If I were running things I would never do that. Other than pissing off fans, I'm not sure what would be gained from doing that.

[-josh-]

I wonder if they even looked at bids from local construction companies...

[AuroraIllini]

One of the 4 firms set to bid is from Champaign....not sure what more you want.