The renovation of Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion is “nearly complete," as contractor Whiting-Turner is “to complete its punch list in less than 30 days," according to Ken Sugiura of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The “most obvious difference” to the facility formerly known as Alexander Memorial Coliseum is that the “walls separating the concourse and the bowl were removed, meaning that the floor is visible from almost every point in the concourse.” The domed roof and the 32 "steel support beams remain, but the McCamish interior looks nothing like the old Thrillerdome.” The lighting system, “similar to those at Madison Square Garden and Staples Center in Los Angeles, will illuminate the court while leaving the stands darkened.” The project’s final cost “will be $50 million, paid with athletic-department funds.” That includes $45M in "construction costs, which was the originally cited figure,” and $5M in what Senior Associate AD Paul Griffin “called ‘F, F & E’ -- furniture, finishings and equipment, which includes everything from the video boards to the goals” (AJC.com, 9/18).
SHOPPING LIST: Univ. of Minnesota AD Norwood Teague said that the school is “shopping for master planning firms to get the basics in place for an overall facilities layout and timeline.” He said that UM right now “is ‘down to the 11th hour’ in determining the right company, and will choose one next week.” In Minneapolis, Amelia Rayno noted a “major part of that eventual plan will include a basketball practice facility.” Teague said that there have been “several individuals highly interested in funding a potential basketball practice facility” (STARTRIBUNE.com, 9/19).
