Memorial Stadium Renovation Photos (June 5-6, 2008)

[Dan]

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June 5-6, 2008

92 days until the home opener Sept 6 vs EIU

* brick wall on West Main separating Colonnades Club complete

* more progress on the exterior walls / windows on the new West Side suites/press area


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Panorama....Larger version of the panorama here >>>



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The East Side





Exterior of the West Side

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[BananaShampoo]

I was driving by yesterday and the progress is remarkable. The outside is looking nearly complete minus some brickwork, windows, and lights.

[Champaignillini]

Nice pics Dan.
This thing looks huge now.

[i bleed orange]

Anybody know what the capacity will be when finished? and how it compared to pre-renovation capacity?

[Dan]

I hear it'll be 65k when complete, down from 69-72 pre renovation.

[bapuillini]

Once again, great pics.

While I acknowledge that somehow it's going to happen (there's no way not to on such a Public Job with game dates already set in stone), but that project is grossly behind schedule. If anyone tells you different, ask them for a copy of the schedule generated in the fall. There's no way this is how they envisioned this project wrapping up.

[Champaignillini]

Off-topic:

There are quite a few projects underway in CU area these days. Another one that looks behind schedule is the ~25 floor apartment building on fourth and green. They're still on the 14th floor, and are scheduled to rent apts this fall.

[OlivetNaz]

Originally Posted by illinigrad

Off-topic:

There are quite a few projects underway in CU area these days. Another one that looks behind schedule is the ~25 floor apartment building on fourth and green. They're still on the 14th floor, and are scheduled to rent apts this fall.

That's not good. Looks like some overtime for the crews. 24-7 until it's done, I say!!!

Then again, it's not like the weather here in Champaign has been construction-friendly lately, either.

[i bleed orange]

Originally Posted by Dan

I hear it'll be 65k when complete, down from 69-72 pre renovation.

Thanks Dan. I found it in the AH article too.
http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x858457...-working-on-it

Seating capacity dropped from 69,249 to roughly 65,000

Concerning contruction in CU, it's in the best interests of the apartment company to finish on time too. I have some friends living there next year and they signed a contract that gives them 1.5 days free rent for every day the apartments aren't ready.

[ChiefIlliniwek]

Originally Posted by i bleed orange

Concerning contruction in CU, it's in the best interests of the apartment company to finish on time too. I have some friends living there next year and they signed a contract that gives them 1.5 days free rent for every day the apartments aren't ready.

Free rent doesn't give your friend a place to stay when the unit isn't finished though. Similar thing happened to my sister. She signed a lease to live in the Illysee (don't remember how it is spelled) right across the street from Presidential Tower (or whatever it is called now... back then it was still a hotel). The apartment wasn't done on time... or for the first 3 months of school for that matter. The landlords put them up in the hotel while it was being finished... but she was homeless for Dad's day weekend since the hotel was booked. When the unit was finally done they hadn't even put doors on the bathrooms. Granted, that was a big problem with that particular apartment company... I don't remember if it was Barr... or who it was. At any rate... I wouldn't sign on any place before it is built.

[OrangeFever]

The pictures are outstanding; they really give an impression of the progress and the immense scale of the project. I echo the thoughts of others--they have a long way to go by September.

[NV Illini 74]

Thanks for the photos, Dan - I was waiting to see when the upper section would finally all be up. It is going to be a very good looking stadium when completed. Something to continue to be proud of.

Re: schedule, once they get the upper structure buttoned up, I should think the weather will not have much bearing on the remainder of work. Then it becomes a question of finding enough quality foremen and workers to staff a second and/or third shift to make up lost time. Back when I worked the trades, shift premiums were not that big a deal financially. However, guys that are employed by the contractor tend to be better workers and more concerned about doing a good job and getting it done on time, so their employer can make a profit and they can stay employed. Unfortunately, there are only so many guys a contractor can carry full-time on his payroll. Additional guys brought in from the union hall are generally more concerned about milking the job and dragging it out for as long as possible so they don't have to go back and sit in the union hall again.

Does anyone know: Would the lower (existing) sections be usable if the new upper sky boxes don't get completed on time? Or is the infrastructure (bathrooms, snack stands, general plumbing and electrical, etc) for that whole side being re-done as a whole, so that if the sky boxes aren't done, neither are the lower seats?

[illinoisportsfan]

I think it's going to be really nice when it's done, but does anyone else think it would have looked better if they had used brick instead of those white panels for the framing? It would have matched the rest of the stadium better, imo.

[large_illini]

Kinda OT, Dan, but are these your photos of Champaign that are showing up on Google Maps? If not, you should definitely upload some of your photos. Champaign doesn't have Streetview.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...=12&iwloc=addr

Keep up the good work, BTW! The new west side is going to be immense.

[illini4everjp]

Why does it look like half of Champaign is on fire?

[i bleed orange]

The east side of the city and campus doesnt have as high a resolution image like the west side. Usually they take lower resolution photos of areas like farmland where there isnt much to see. I don't know why they decided to stop halfway through the city though.

[Dan]

Thanks all for your comments!


illinigrad, photos of 309 E Green from 6/9/2008

Originally Posted by NV Illini 74

Does anyone know: Would the lower (existing) sections be usable if the new upper sky boxes don't get completed on time?

There wouldn't be any room, i.e. the West Side needs to be finished on time.

Originally Posted by large_illini

Kinda OT, Dan, but are these your photos of Champaign that are showing up on Google Maps?

Nice feature, not my photos, I may start uploading.

[danielb927]

Some of that high-res satellite shot is (or at least used to be) cloudy. I wonder if there was too much cloud cover to do Urbana too that day.