Purdue News
Purdue News
|
|
September 17, 1999 Purdue moves forward on Ross-Ade renovationWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue's Board of Trustees today (Friday, 9/17) agreed to hire HNTB Sports Architecture of Kansas City, Mo., as the project architect for the renovation of Ross-Ade Stadium.
Kenneth Burns, executive vice president and treasurer, said the renovation plan consists of three stages. Phase I will focus on structural and concrete repairs, enlarging the concourse areas, expanding restrooms and adding concession areas. Phase I also will replace the press box and add private viewing suites and new club seating on the west side of the stadium. The Phase I costs are estimated at $55-60 million. Work will start at the end of the 2000 season, with completion by fall 2003. The Ross-Ade Foundation, owner of the stadium, would assume the debt for the renovation. The costs would be repaid through fees for private suites and club seating. The 75-year-old stadium has a seating capacity of 67,332. After the three phases, seating will increase to about 80,000. Phases II and III involve upper deck seating on the east and north sides of the stadium. Estimated costs are $27.5 million for Phase II and $27 million for Phase III, both in 1999 dollars. Burns said completion of these phases would depend on demand for football seating. Morgan Burke, director of intercollegiate athletics, said: "This renovation plan is designed to make Ross-Ade Stadium one of the premier college football sites in the country. The excitement generated by Coach Joe Tiller and his team has energized our fans, and as they return to the stadium in increasing numbers, we want to give them a first-class facility in which to watch their Boilermakers. I'm confident they will be delighted with the results of this renovation." Ross-Ade Stadium is named for two Purdue graduates – inventor-industrialist David E. Ross, who was a president of the board of trustees, and writer-humorist George Ade. The stadium was dedicated on Nov. 22, 1924. In other business, the trustees: • Approved spending $3.6 million to complete the interior work for the Facility Services building off Ahlers Road at the south edge of campus. • Approved renaming the Department of Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional and Tourism Management to the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, effective July 1. Dennis Savaiano, dean of the School of Consumer and Family Sciences, suggested the change to reflect the department's evolution and broad commitment to the study of the hospitality industries. Sources: Kenneth Burns, (765) 494-9705 Morgan Burke, (765) 494-3189 Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; jwillis1@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu PHOTO CAPTION: Future of Ross-Ade StadiumPurdue's Board of Trustees and the Ross-Ade Foundation have agreed to renovate and expand Ross-Ade Stadium. This architect's rendering shows the football stadium after three phases of work that will increase its seating to about 80,000. The first phase will enlarge the concourse, expand restroom and concession areas, replace the press box and add seating to the west side of the stadium. Phases II (shown in red) and III (shown in blue) will add seating to the north and east sides. (Graphic by HNTB Sports Architecture) Color graphic, electronic transmission, and Web and ftp download available. Photo ID: Stadium.sketch
|
