State Farm Center Renovation

#301      

ilphotog

ilphotog
The camera never lies
Champaign
ilphotog
Today's visit - Things are moving along nicely. The flooring being put down in the West entrance is almost done, hope in two weeks to get a good clear shot of the area. They have started putting down the flooring around the lower concourse, it will look really sharp when done. A couple of the staircases have had the flooring installed on them as well.
Inside the arena they have installed a few of the new lights up on the ring but haven't been turned on yet.
In the two new club area's the temporary walls on the lower concourse have been removed, the Legacy Club is getting closer to being finished, the Krush Club still has a ways to go, but they did get new hanging lights installed.
On the upper concourse, by the end of this month all of the block work should be done on the new rest rooms and concession stands, then installing all the fixtures.
On the outside, they continue work on the roof, I believe they are on their last section. The west circle drive, all of the work materials have been removed from inside of the circle drive (grass area). Its being regraded and fill dirt is being added, then they will be reseeded the area. Also nearly all of those shrubs along the streets around the SFC are being torn out.
The locker rooms have been framed and drywall has been installed, these will look really sharp when done. The new trainers room with cold tubs is moving along as well.
A little bonus- The old wooden seats at Huff are currently being removed, probably have about 75% unbolted and sent down a wooden slide to the floor, loaded onto carts and placed into a large disposal dumpster.
 
#302      

ilphotog

ilphotog
The camera never lies
Champaign
ilphotog
SeattleSlim said:
Been awhile since I've been to Huff (40 years), but I'd think those old wooden seats would have some (sentimental) value. Any chance they'll be recycled/auctioned off?
Click to expand...

They did have several sitting in a separate area, most were going into the dumpster. Those were used for 91 years .
 
#304      

peace davids

P
Colorado
peace davids
A lot of things are hard to avoid in a renovation project, but man - I really hate how much exposed mechanical piping, electrical conduit, trapeze hangers, and service drops are exposed in the concourses. It looks like they didn't even try.

I mean, they poured new concrete rims for the windows and expanded the concourse. Almost ALL of that likely could have been roughed into the concrete or run along the base (and covered).

Scheduling makes this type of thing hard, but a good PM team should have tried to avoid this to maintain the aesthetics of the concourses.

/endrant
 
#305      

Giovanni

G
Giovanni
peace davids said:
A lot of things are hard to avoid in a renovation project, but man - I really hate how much exposed mechanical piping, electrical conduit, trapeze hangers, and service drops are exposed in the concourses. It looks like they didn't even try.

I mean, they poured new concrete rims for the windows and expanded the concourse. Almost ALL of that likely could have been roughed into the concrete or run along the base (and covered).

Scheduling makes this type of thing hard, but a good PM team should have tried to avoid this to maintain the aesthetics of the concourses.

/endrant
Click to expand...

Some of that, as I'm sure you know, is the fire suppression system, but yeah, it looks mighty odd to see all that conduit (presumably electrical) dropping from the sky into the restrooms.
 
#306      

peace davids

P
Colorado
peace davids
Giovanni said:
Some of that, as I'm sure you know, is the fire suppression system, but yeah, it looks mighty odd to see all that conduit (presumably electrical) dropping from the sky into the restrooms.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know that is unavoidable, but there is a big difference in black pipe with sprinklers and electrical conduits bolted to the edges of concrete and dangling on trapeze hangers.

I worked on the new Falcons stadium for awhile, and they have similar issues because of design changes that happen after the concrete is poured, but cmon... Electrical service in bathrooms? That was in the scope on day 1.
 
#307      

Deleted member 3875

D
Guest
Deleted member 3875
danielb927 said:
I've never been to Mackey but it's hard to imagine a worse stadium, infrastructure-wise, than IU's. from the top row, approximately 75% of your view is wall or ceiling within 20 feet of you:

View attachment 2681
Click to expand...

IU Assembly Hall is the pits. Must have hired a Purdue engineer to design it and he stuck it to em. The rafters seats at NU's high school gym come close however.
 
#308      

icengineer

I
Southern Illinois
icengineer
peace davids said:
Yeah, I know that is unavoidable, but there is a big difference in black pipe with sprinklers and electrical conduits bolted to the edges of concrete and dangling on trapeze hangers.

I worked on the new Falcons stadium for awhile, and they have similar issues because of design changes that happen after the concrete is poured, but cmon... Electrical service in bathrooms? That was in the scope on day 1.
Click to expand...

How else are they supposed to get it there? There are no exterior walls. The cost/scope of cutting into structural concrete be it the overhead or floor is not cheap. Yes, aesthetically its not pretty, but it's likely the best they could do within their budget.
 
#309      

peace davids

P
Colorado
peace davids
icengineer said:
How else are they supposed to get it there? There are no exterior walls. The cost/scope of cutting into structural concrete be it the overhead or floor is not cheap. Yes, aesthetically its not pretty, but it's likely the best they could do within their budget.
Click to expand...

I agree it isn't cheap, but they did cut into the concrete for plumbing, they did pour concrete around the rim for the expanded concourse. The did significant digging underneath. There were opportunities to avoid it if it were a priority.

Not a huge deal, just one of those things that i hate noticing (whether I know the backstory or not).
 
Last edited:
#310      

icengineer

I
Southern Illinois
icengineer
peace davids said:
Not a huge deal, just one of those things that i hate noticing (whether I know the backstory or not).
Click to expand...

Having a construction background as well, I also notice all these things. But I learned not to get so wrapped up in it early on because, as you say about not knowing the backstory, you have to assume they have/had legit reasons for doing it a particular way.
 
#311      

ilphotog

ilphotog
The camera never lies
Champaign
ilphotog
Today's visit - Not a lot of new stuff, just advancing along on schedule. Many of the new lights are installed up on the ring, these are the ones for the court. They are prepping the suites for the installation of the ribbon board, should be starting soon. The new flooring on the lower concourse is now maybe a 1/3 down, looks pretty good. The new flooring in the West entrance is almost complete, cant wait to get a full shot of the area once its done.
The upper concourse is moving along, nearing the end of the block work for the new restrooms. Down in the new locker rooms, most of the drywall is complete, lots of electrical and plumbing work going on today. The new trainers room has one of the cold tubs in place and some tile work done, still lots more to do in this area.
 
#313      

ilphotog

ilphotog
The camera never lies
Champaign
ilphotog
WesterveltVictoryCigar said:
When is the latest round of work supposed to be completed? Will they be scrambling to finish before the season starts or is it going to be done well ahead of that time?
Click to expand...

I believe they are supposed to be done by November, there shouldn't be a reason that they are not done on time barring a unexpected mishap. It's not the 100 mph work zone like the last two years, more like a 55 mph zone. The thing I'm really glad they are removing, the nasty bushes (hedges) that separated the parking lot from the sidewalks or street. All they did was collect leaves and trash, people would step through and damage them as well. Not sure what the new landscape will be.
 
#315      

Bob Christiansen

B
4th & Chalmers, a few years ago...Now? Weeki Wach
Bob Christiansen
SeattleSlim said:
Been awhile since I've been to Huff (40 years), but I'd think those old wooden seats would have some (sentimental) value. Any chance they'll be recycled/auctioned off?
Click to expand...

I played many a pickup game at Huff. Lived across the street as a freshman at Lundgren Hall (in the basement, over the steam tunnels, toasty warm in the winter!), then up 4th St when I pledged Phi Psi's. Would love to have one of those seats...
 
#316      

saleen970

S
saleen970
Bob Christiansen said:
I played many a pickup game at Huff. Lived across the street as a freshman at Lundgren Hall (in the basement, over the steam tunnels, toasty warm in the winter!), then up 4th St when I pledged Phi Psi's. Would love to have one of those seats...
Click to expand...

May have been hot but no steam tunnels under Lundgren.
 
#317      

Giovanni

G
Giovanni
ilphotog said:
Today's visit - Not a lot of new stuff, just advancing along on schedule. Many of the new lights are installed up on the ring, these are the ones for the court. They are prepping the suites for the installation of the ribbon board, should be starting soon. The new flooring on the lower concourse is now maybe a 1/3 down, looks pretty good. The new flooring in the West entrance is almost complete, cant wait to get a full shot of the area once its done.
The upper concourse is moving along, nearing the end of the block work for the new restrooms. Down in the new locker rooms, most of the drywall is complete, lots of electrical and plumbing work going on today. The new trainers room has one of the cold tubs in place and some tile work done, still lots more to do in this area.
Click to expand...

Jeez, are they ever going to post your pictures?!

:chief: >>>>>>>>>>>>>> :shield:
 
#318      

ilphotog

ilphotog
The camera never lies
Champaign
ilphotog
Giovanni said:
Jeez, are they ever going to post your pictures?!

:chief: >>>>>>>>>>>>>> :shield:
Click to expand...

For many who deal with this, June is their vacation time. Literally everyone was gone last week, so next Wednesday they will get a double dose of photo's. In case people forgot, I go over every two weeks now, instead of weekly.
 
#319      

Illinithad

I
Northeast Missouri
Illinithad
ilphotog said:
For many who deal with this, June is their vacation time. Literally everyone was gone last week, so next Wednesday they will get a double dose of photo's. In case people forgot, I go over every two weeks now, instead of weekly.
Click to expand...

I appreciate everything you have posted. It's been fun and very interesting watching the development of the restoration from beginning all the way through. Thanks again!
 
#320      

ilphotog

ilphotog
The camera never lies
Champaign
ilphotog
Illinithad said:
I appreciate everything you have posted. It's been fun and very interesting watching the development of the restoration from beginning all the way through. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Thanks, its been a long project and I'm looking forward for its completion. Yet a small part of me will miss it.
 
#321      

ilphotog

ilphotog
The camera never lies
Champaign
ilphotog
Today's visit
We couldn't get inside the arena because of the overhead work on the ring, so no update for inside of the arena.
The flooring on the lower level is about 75% done, the Krush club had some new decorative panels installed that go from the outside entry way, along the wall and wrap around into the club. These will look sharp when done.(photo will help explain this).
The New Main West entrance has the flooring complete and cleaned. It really looks great. In this area if you remember, the South wall was just a long wall with the granite looking tiles, since the last visit they have cut out and opened an area for the entrance to the new Hall Of Fame. They begun working in this area.
On the upper concourse they are putting the final blocks on the last restroom to be built and continuing with the rest of them.
On the outside, nearly everything has been graded and seeded, mainly the large area's inside both the East and West circle drives. Small area's will be touched up as needed until everything is finished.
The locker rooms have the drop ceiling brackets installed along with the canisters for the lights, the trainers room has been dry-walled and the cold tub room has the walls tiled.
 
#323      

Giovanni

G
Giovanni
T-minus-24h until I leave on vacation with no Internet access for the next 11 days. The last pictures posted were taken 5/18/16. The DIA has this feature (http://statefarmcenter.com/photos.html) but obviously has had no interest in servicing the feature in anything approaching a timely fashion. And forget their June vacations; this has been true since Day1.

We all appreciate ilphotog taking the pictures and telling us about them here, given the following assumptions/limitations:
--takes pictures and hands them over to some DIA drone(s) that day or the next day.
--is not allowed to post any pictures elsewhere.
--has no influence over said DIA drones, quite obviously.
So, my complaints have never been about ilphotog.

Maybe it has been covered long ago and I missed it, but can y'all tell me/us who is responsible over at the DIA so I/we can complain to them directly?
 
#325      

ilphotog

ilphotog
The camera never lies
Champaign
ilphotog
Today's visit - The crews have finished the roof work and are in the process of taking down the large scaffolding on the North side of the building.
On the upper concourse, all of the masonry block work is completed, work continues on finishing the restrooms and concession stands.
The Legacy Club is really coming along nicely, some new flooring has be installed as have some drink shelves.(a shelf to sit your drink on while standing there etc.)
The Krush club has the panels on the walls installed. Now they will be marked, removed and sent to the printing company, who will then add graphics to them.
The locker room area, the training room is getting concrete added today, most of the drywall is done . As for the locker rooms, the drywall is done, getting ready to install light fixtures and other things.
In the arena, the news speakers are being installed, they will hang from the ceiling in the corner areas above the court. They look just like the concert speakers that hang from the ceiling during shows.
The Hall of Fame room has the drywall done.
All of the other dressing rooms down by the locker rooms were gutted, they should start on them by the next visit.

Huff Hall update, the new seats have been installed in the balconies, no backs as of yet, I haven't been told anything on this project, so I can only tell what I see. It also looks like some new ADA seating is being installed up there, not sure where the elevator will be located to access this area.