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| Valley Head Coach Karl Morgan |
ITTA BENA – Mississippi Valley State University President Donna H. Oliver unveiled on March 18 an artist’s rendering of the new East Side Grandstands that will be ready for the 2011 Delta Devils football season.
Surrounded by University officials and representatives of the JBHM Architects of Jackson and the Mississippi Bureau of Building, Grounds & Real Property, President Oliver discussed the more than $5.5 million Phase I project, which includes new stadium seating and restrooms.
Evan Johnson & Sons was awarded the bid on March 3. The Brandon company’s total bid is $5,542,400.00 for Phase I completion of the grandstands and restrooms on Aug. 26, a week before the first home game on Sept. 3. The project is funded with bond money provided by the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management.
The company will begin major construction on April 4. The overall Phase I project completion date is March 2012.
"This design allows for the opportunity for adding scope to the project in future phases," said Dr. Oliver. "Components of the new design include larger restroom facilities, chairback seating, and a club level deck."
Preplanning and the removal of the existing East Side Stands is near completion, she said.
The East Grandstand will have 5,000 seats, including 500 chairbacks. The seating will have more spacious depth and width as well as improved viewing angles. There will be two circulation aisles in the grandstand.
The concourse under the grandstand will include restrooms, a first aid room, vendor “stalls”, circulation and gathering space, dedicated storage areas and areas for food/merchandise kiosks.
A feature new to the University will be a club-level deck atop the grandstand allowing for a 360-degree view of the Itta Bena campus.
Other improvements include an entrance plaza with signage, dedicated service areas and electrical improvements, including emergency power.
Future projects include an estimated $2 million Phase 2 East Grandstand improvements for the addition of an elevator for ADA use and service access for audio visual and broadcast equipment, the addition of ramp towers at both ends of the grandstand in lieu of stairs, the addition of a roof canopy above the club-level deck, addition of permanent concession stands and ticket booths, and facade improvements of tilt-up concrete panels (to enclose the bleachers), including gates and decorative steel grilles.
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| Rice-Totten Stadium Upgrades |
Rounding out the Phase 2 would be the addition of high performance epoxy coatings at all structural steel and non-slip concrete walking surfaces.
Other future phase improvements include stadium lighting, scoreboard and audio visual, landscaping and West Side Grandstand improvements.
President Oliver announced the University is seeking an estimated $2 million in private funding to replace west side electrical elements and a new scoreboard with 22’ wide x 12’ high videoboard screen capability, and new public announcement and sound system.
The scoreboard carries an estimated $485,000 price tag. Future stadium lighting improvements carry a nearly $700,000 price tag, which will replace all field lighting and upgrade west-side electrical, including a new service entrance, new transformer and new emergency generator for the lights.
The University unveiled the future Fannie Lou Hamer Way
(GS# 106-235), a pedestrian corridor. The initial pre-planning design phase has been funded and is under way.
The pedestrian corridor will be a mixture of paving materials to include pavers and concrete which will feature “nook” spaces throughout to provide each fraternity and sorority a designated location. Axial focal points will be positioned at each end for sculptures or other “honorary” elements.
In addition to landscaping, Fannie Lou Hamer Waywill feature benches and seat walls, the continuation of new campus lighting with a tie-in to the football stadium’s entrance plaza. “This will allow for a beautiful game day event and tailgating area,” Oliver said.
PHASE 1 HIGHLIGHTS:
Key Components of Design:
• 5,000 seats, including 500 chairbacks.
More spacious depth and width.
Improved viewing angles.
• Concourse Under Grandstand:
Restrooms (64 Toilets, 20 sinks total in 4 restrooms (2 women, 2 men)
First Aid Room
Vendor ‘Stalls’
Circulation and Gathering Space
Dedicated Storage Areas
Area(s) for Food/Merchandise
Kiosks
• Club Level Deck atop Grandstand.
• 2 circulation aisles in Grandstand.
•
Entrance Plaza with signage.
• Electrical Improvements, including
emergency power.
• Dedicated ‘Service’ Areas.
PHASE 2 PROJECTED COSTS
1. $120,000.00 Add one Elevator.
Accessibility Requirements (
ADA) and Service Access for A/V and Television
equipment.
2. $560,000.00 Add Roof Canopy Above Club Level.
Includes lighting for canopy.
3. $1,175,000.00 Add Tilt-Up Concrete Façade panels, including Gates
and Decorative steel grilles.
Add permanent Concession Stands and Ticket Booths.
Add High-Performance Epoxy Coatings at all Structural
Steel and Concrete Walking Surfaces.
Rough-ins for the Façade, Concessions, and Ticket Booths are included in the
current ‘Phase 1’ project.
4. $200,000.00
Add Ramp Towers at both ends of Grandstand (in lieu of
stair access).
$2,055,000.00 Estimated Grand Total of all ‘Phase 2’ Improvements
By MVSU News
The Texas Southern Tigers took their first step in preparation for the 2011 SWAC Championship Title. The defending champions started spring practice on Wednesday. About 70 players hit the field for conditioning and to run through drills. 2010 SWAC Coach of the Year, Johnnie Cole and his staff know it’s going to be a hard fought season to repeat as champions, but they believe the Tigers are up for the challenge.
