March 9, 2000

 

Convocation Center Behind Schedule

John T. Bennett  Administration Beat

 

Due to construction delays brought on by winter weather, progress on the George M. Holmes Convocation Center is slighty behind schedule.  Crews are busy working inside and outside the facility in a race to meet the proposed September opening date.  Construction progress is a bit behind the original schedule due to 25 winter weather related delay days, but Director of Design and Construction Dr. Clyde Robbins remained optimistic that the facility would be completed by September.  “We are a little behind on the installation of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems,” said Robbins.  Once the mechanical contractor and university officials finalize the plan, “that will put him back on the same schedule as everyone else,” said Robbins.  At any given time, as many as 150 workers from 15 sub-contracting companies are frantically racing to get back on the original construction schedule that was delayed by the wintery conditions.  Construction is progressing inside the facility, as crews are currently installing parts of the ventilation and electrical systems.  Upon completion, the inside of the facility will be decked out in a black and gold color scheme.  “In the whole facility, there is a lot of gold and black,” said Robbins.  The lower level seats will be primarily black and gold.  A portion of the upper level seats will also bare the university colors, with the remaining seats to be colored gray.  “The soft gray seats are for the lighting ambiance.  The darker the seats, the harder it is to get full lighting quality in the arena,” said Robbins.  Other aspects of the arena will also reflect the university colors:  • The portable basketball floor will feature a black and gold color scheme, as well as the ASU logo.  • Banners designating section numbers will be done in black and gold.  • All signs throughout the facility will be black and gold, and will include the ASU logo.  • All railings will be painted gold.  • All seat bases will be black.  Robbins said one goal of the designers was to incorporate the university colors into the facility while being careful not to overwhelm visitors with an overdose of the school colors.  One of the main features of the arena will be telescoping seating, which gives spectators the feel of being closer to the playing floor.  Workers have begun drilling holes for railings and seats, both of which will be added in the near future.  Robbins said he hopes crews can begin pouring the concrete floor in about three weeks. The floor area of the arena is currently being used as a staging area for the crane-led installation of large ventilating pipes.  The Convocation Center will not only serve as a venue for athletic and entertainment events, as one-fourth of the facility will serve as the new home for the health, leisure and exercise science department.  Once operational, the facility will have 52 office spaces for the department’s faculty, as well as classrooms and several state-of-the-art laboratories.  Robbins stressed that financially it is in the best interest of both ASU officials and the project’s various contractors to finish the project on time.  “Given the price of supplies over the long haul, they want to wrap things up as soon as they can, just as we do,” said Robbins.

 
   

theapp@appstate.edu