Walking through the construction area at Scheumann Stadium, one will find it filled with Shook Construction workers plugging away during 10-hour shifts and six-day work weeks.
There is also dirt. Lots and lots of dirt mixed in with some steel beams that will eventually comprise the Kozell Communications Center; however, many of those are still sitting on the ground.
The expected completion date is Aug. 17, but inclement weather in January and February put the project behind schedule. Currently, Shook Construction is cycling two shifts of workers to hit the target date. Devon Kellum, the project supervisor for Shook Construction, insists the stadium will be ready for use by the time Ball State University plays host to Miami University in the season opener on Aug. 30.
"We'll make schedule," Kellum said.
Mark Grasso, project manager, said it has been tough on the construction workers having to work six days a week.
"It's been a little bit of a challenge, but we're working diligently to get this thing turned over," Grasso said. "We got a lot of real good contractors around here and are anxious to get the project completed on time."
This is the second Mid-American Conference stadium Shook Construction has renovated. After the 2002 season, the company took part in the renovation project of Miami University's Yager Stadium.
Completely rebuilding a press box and renovating the north end zone doesn't come cheaply. The total contract for the project will total more than $13 million. The base bid was $12.7 million, but three additions added a little less than a million dollars to the overall project.
The most expensive of these are the colonnades in the north end zone. According to documents obtained through a public records request, the total cost is $774,000 for 14 colonnades - each 30 feet tall - and the cement walkway going across it. A colonnade is a series of columns placed at regular intervals. At the end of each side of the walkway, ramps will head down to the field. Connecting the colonnades will be wrought-iron fencing. The fencing will not go all the way up, only 4-foot-8 inches high.
"It'll be something different and unique," Kellum said. "It'll give something different to the football stadium."
A berm will go down at a 30-degree angle toward the field. Kellum said sod will be placed on the hill for festival seating.
"It's like a covered porch," Grasso said. "It's not enclosed or anything, but it'll be a sun-catcher, so to speak. It'll be like a covered walkway."
An additional concessions area will cost $81,000. The price to add wraps, anchors and matching brick on the already existing columns for the west grandstand is $80,000.
The crew is making the most progress on the concession stands and restrooms. Although none of the toilets or urinals are installed yet, the plumbing is nearly finished, Kellum said.
Two elevators will lead up to the Kozell Center. This includes club seats on the first level, the press box on the second and suites on the third. Both elevators will be traction elevators instead of the hydraulic ones in place before. The elevator shaft is 102 feet tall.
The Kozell Center will stretch 120 feet long. Progress on it has been minimal, but Grasso said it would take the longest for his team to complete because of the complexity of the project.
FieldTurf USA will be installing the new playing surface, in place of the natural grass that has been used since the opening of the stadium in 1967. Currently, the company is still in the process of tearing out the field. According to the FieldTurf USA Web site, installation will begin on May 1. The contract for the project totals $798,647.90. Ball State will become the eighth member of the MAC to switch to FieldTurf. Twenty-one of the 32 NFL teams also use it.
"Hopefully, by beautifying the facilities they have here, they'll get some bigger caliber teams here," Grasso said.
ColonnadesA colonnade is a series of columns placed at regular intervals.
Colonnades will be located in the north end zone.The total cost will be $774,000 for 14 colonnades.The colonnades will each be 30 feet tall.
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