Fieldhouse on target to meet Sept. 5 'substantial completion'

Construction on Heidelberg’s new $27.4 million Student Athletics, Academic, and Recreation Center – the Fieldhouse – is winding up and winding down at the same time, according to Rod Morrison, Vice President for Facilities and Engineering.

The Fieldhouse should be “substantially complete” by the target of Sept. 5.

“It's that time in a construction project when chaos reigns but out of chaos emerges order, and that's a beautiful process to watch,” Rod said.

As of this week, major construction is complete and the building is fully enclosed. The HVAC system is fully operational, and the turf side of the facility is finished.

The interior

Crews are currently hard at work installing the wood flooring on the track side. Installation of the track and other rubber flooring surfaces is expected to begin around August 18, according to Rod.

“The ‘high’ work on both sides, including all of the curtains, speakers, cameras, and wifi points have been installed,” he added. “Lights and dropped ceilings are being installed and the wooden ‘sleachers’ in the lobby are completed and in place.”

The weeks of Aug. 11 and Aug. 18 will be extra busy. Carpeting is on site and ready for installation, and all equipment and furnishings have been ordered with many of those items already received. Beginning next week, some of those items will be moved to the turf room to be distributed as spaces are finished and released.

TVs and food service equipment placement will be among the last of the interior items to be installed, Rod noted.

Finally, the signage, branding, and donor board work was awarded to Toledo Sign Company a few weeks ago, and they will begin their installation as soon as space is ready. Rod expects the tactile and donor room signage to be installed, starting approximately Aug. 18.

The exterior

Exterior walks, roads, curbs, light pole bases – all things concrete – are in place. “What remains to be completed is ‘on deck,’” Rod said. “The landscape subcontractor has been on site to review their plans and are just awaiting the call to start. Landscaping materials were selected and marked for HU several months ago.”

More good news: The east parking lot by the Stadium View Townhomes is complete and available for event parking.

The only snag

Our only snag at this point is the elevator! “It's always the elevator,” Rod joked.

The actual elevator equipment is scheduled to be delivered to the site in about two weeks. The snag is getting Schindler Elevator Company to assign labor to do the installation. Marker Construction – the Fieldhouse general contractor – is working hard to get that process in place.

The best news

With the interior and exterior projects nearing completion, “We should meet our revised goal to achieve substantial completion on Sept. 5, with the exception of having free access to the elevator,” he said.

“That will give us plenty of time to supply, stock, arrange and otherwise shake down the building in preparation for the Oct. 3 dedication and grant opening!”