ATLANTA (Jan. 20) – On Jan. 20 the Georgia Tech Athletic Association announced it has selected Carter/Turner, a joint venture of Carter & Associates and Turner Construction, to oversee and manage the design and construction for a $70 million expansion and renovation of Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field and Russ Chandler Stadium, Tech’s baseball facility.
After review of a feasibility study completed in March of 2000, the Athletic Association began the selection process in December of 2000. The plans called for the expansion of Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field, increasing the total capacity to 55,000 seats from its current capacity of 46,000 seats, and the reconstruction of Russ Chandler Stadium, which would provide 5,000 seats.
“We’re thrilled to proceed with the expansion of these two facilities. Given Tech’s national recognition in both sports, the Athletic Association felt it was necessary to upgrade our stadiums and expand their capabilities,” said Dave Braine, director of athletics for Georgia Tech.
In the late 80’s, there were substantial renovations to the western portion of the football stadium, which is the oldest on-campus facility at a Division I-A institution, and Tech is now planning to rebuild the other parts of the stadium. Current plans call for additional athletic office space and stadium support facilities, including new concession stands, locker rooms and coaches’ offices, suites, boxes, and broadcast facilities. The plan also includes a brand new East stands structure, with new concourses and rest room facilities. A lower level concourse will connect the Edge Athletics Center to the Wardlaw Building in the South end zone, and will include multi-use recreational and fitness space.
The upper concourse will be expanded to allow for new concession and retail space on game days.
Construction of the football stadium will be completed in two phases, beginning in December of 2001 and continuing through September of 2002. The second phase of construction will resume at the conclusion of the 2002 football season, and will continue through completion in the fall of 2003. Tech will continue to play football in the Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field during the construction process.
The plan for the renovation of Russ Chandler Stadium, the baseball facility, would more than double the total seating capacity. The current grandstand, built in 1985, seats approximately 1,800, while plans call for capacity to expand to 5,000 by 2002. The current grandstand, press box, concession stand, restrooms, and locker rooms will all be replaced. The existing field will be enhanced, and a larger grandstand, press box, new suites, and all new support facilities will be constructed.
Program management will be provided by Carter/Turner, a joint venture of Carter & Associates and Turner Construction, while HOK Sport has been selected as the project’s architect.
Turner Construction is the nation’s fourth largest contractor, and largest sports facility contractor with $4.9 billion in revenue in 1999.
HOK Sport is the world’s largest designer of athletic facilities, with clients including 24 Major League Baseball franchises; 30 National Football League franchises; 40 soccer and rugby teams; and 75 colleges and universities.
Founded in 1958, Carter & Associates o ONCOR International is one of the Southeast’s largest commercial real estate firms with 1999 transactions totaling over $1 billion. Carter provides a diversity of services, including brokerage and corporate services, development, investment, and property management and leasing.
