Here comes the hardwood

You can almost hear the sound of the basketballs being dribbled in the Puterbaugh Men’s Practice Facility as installation of the maple playing surface for the gym is being completed.  Next, the floor will be sanded and cleaned before receiving the sealer coat, game lines and the finish.

And, next door in the Athletic Performance Center, installation of the subfloor system for the court will begin the week of February 8 when the work on the upper walls is complete. Work continues on the glass entry and skylight system in that facility and electricians are installing wiring for the lighting systems.  Installation of the four elevators in the building is also in progress.

Foundation well underway

Moderate weather continues to allow workers to make progress on the foundation of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. The north foundation wall has been poured and form work is being completed for the northeast footing.  Three elevator pits also are being poured.

“Gym” dandy progress

The maple flooring for the Athletic Performance Center and the Puterbaugh Men’s Practice Facility have been delivered and installation of the subflooring will begin the week of January 18. Painting in the Puterbaugh gym is complete and the retractable basketball goals have been installed.

Painting also continues in the APC. Ceramic flooring, carpet and wall tile are being installed in the the lower level and installation of sports flooring is scheduled to begin January 18 in the training room. Ceiling grids and lights also are being installed in these areas. And, passers-by on Main Street will notice that glass installation is continuing at the Lobby entrance area on the north end of the building.

Thanks, Ol’ Man Winter

The weather is cooperating nicely to allow progress on the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. During the week of January 11 more than 200 cubic yards of concrete were poured for the west foundation wall and the north footing, and the north foundation wall now is being layed out and formed.

Bird’s eye view of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center well above Brrrrrr-adley Hall

Snow and cold temperatures have not halted construction on the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. The first footings along the west and north sides of the building have been poured and through the holidays contractors began forming the west foundation wall. Iron workers are completing the installation of the formwork, and, if the temperature rises just a bit, concrete for this wall may be poured the first week of January.

Alumni Center construction is underway

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center was held on Founder’s Day this fall. The ceremony marked the beginning of the $10 million project that is being built on the west side of Bradley Hall.  Since that time, old landscaping has been removed and excavation is underway for footings and the foundation.  Weather permitting the first footings along the west wall may be poured in mid-December.

The Alumni Center will include:
• A large-scale ballroom opening to a balcony overlooking the Alumni Quad
• An Alumni Hall of Pride
• Library
• Wired conference rooms
• Alumni Relations offices

Alumni Jerry and Marilyn Hayden and alumnus Bob Clark and his wife, Kathleen, have donated a total of $5 million, nearly half of what is needed to build the facility.

A roof over their heads

The Athletic Performance Center is nearly completely enclosed.  Installation of glass for the lobby area facing Main Street is expected to begin this week. “Pyramid” shaped skylights will be added in a week or two.

Meanwhile, unseen by sidewalk superintendents, inside the facility electricians are roughing in the electrical systems as the wall framers progress with metal studs. In the basement and west side of the first floor, drywall is being finished and painting has started. The gym in the Puterbaugh Men’s Basketball Practice Facility is also being painted in preparation for installation of wood flooring in January and ceramic tile work has started in the basement in the hydrotherapy room.

The especially wet spring and summer delayed some exterior work on the center. Still, the Athletic Performance Center and the Basketball Practice Facility are expected to be complete by late spring or early summer of 2010, with the buildings fully operational when students return to campus next fall.

Progress continues

The last roof truss has been installed on the Athletic Performance Center and the iron workers are now working on the north end-wall structural framing. The roofer has started installation work at the lower roof along the west side of the building and window installation is in progress. And, much work continues on the interior of the building.

Observers soon will see the large crane used to set the structural steel at the north end of the building at the southwest corner of the building for the installation of the precast wall panels on the Practice Gym.

VIDEO: Athletic Performance Center Taking Shape

Watch a tour of the new Athletic Performance Center led by women’s basketball senior Jenny Van Kirk.

In-truss-ting

The first roof truss for the Athletic Performance Center on the former site of Robertson Memorial Field House was moved into place on August 31. The roof line and entryway of the new facility will reflect the lines of the historic Field House, making its own architectural statement. The Center, which will include a 4200-seat arena, a Hall of Fame recognizing Bradley legends, women’s locker rooms, offices, and more, will serve as the home court for women’s basketball and volleyball. It is expected to be completed in the late Spring of 2010.