Western Kentucky University Press Box and Field House

Project Scope

Phase 1 of this project involved a 15,335 SF structural expansion to WKU’s Football Stadium Press Box. The work included removing the existing Club Lounge level and converting the interstitial mechanical mezzanine into a 5th-floor plate for media, coaches, and the University President’s private suite. The new press level included fully conditioned spaces, new restrooms, a fire alarm/sprinkler, and modern technology for game reporting. Phase 2 included a new 85,168 SF pre-engineered metal building Field House with artificial turf, observation mezzanine, scoreboards, heating, and ventilation. The Field House is flanked at two elevations with an additional 36,688 SF conventional steel structure with space for the E-Sports program, Sports Forensics program, baseball batting cages, baseball clubhouse, locker room, and flexible office/conference space.

Location:

Bowling Green, KY

Client:

Western Kentucky University

Challenge Faced

The Press Box project initially required thinking through the various types of possible structural steel systems to create the future media-level floor deck. The structural engineer presented numerous options for the project team to review. Reeves Young collaborated with trusted industry partners to determine the least impactive system, considering installation logistics, structural loads, fabrication lead times, and cost. Installation and erection of the new structural system would require both extensive interior and exterior selective demolition.

Solution Provided

Reeves Young collaborated with trusted industry partners to determine the least impactive system, considering installation logistics, structural loads, fabrication lead times, and cost. Installation and erection of the new structural system would require extensive interior and exterior selective demolition. The project team immediately began tracing and capping existing utilities, controlling access through the building to keep athletes and staff safe, and removing the existing Club Lounge finishes and systems. At the exterior, boom lifts gingerly hoisted workers from the Feix Field up to the top of the overhang so that metal wall panels and soffit could be removed to expose the existing structure. The glass storefront was removed and adjusted to align with the new structure and temporary weather barriers were installed. The steel erector hoisted new steel members 60 feet into the air and delicately threaded them through a rear opening. The new floor structure re-purposed a mechanical interstitial space into 8,550 SF useable (and conditioned) space.