...construction management/general contractor process.
“Being able to do design work, negotiations and work at the same time saved at least a year on the timeline,” says Karl Wieseke, Hamilton project manager.
The finale of the project will be an environmental restoration to bring back native plants to the staging areas and improvements to the Millrace structure beneath the southern end of the Interstate 5 bridge.
Tight and Loud
When the Oregon Ducks take to the court in December for the first Pacific-10 Conference tip-off in the new $200-million Matthew Knight Arena at University of Oregon, all 12,500 fans will feel like they have the best seat in the house.
The design by Kansas City-based Elerbe Becket (now AECOM) and Portland-based TVA Architects elevates the vertical to take advantage of every inch of the 380,000-sq-ft precast bowl. When complete, it will be one of the steepest modern arenas in the country.
Jim Bartko, University of Oregon senior associate athletics director, calls the resulting acoustics “tight and loud” and predicts the intimidating noise will translate into more wins.
The complex will anchor the primary public entry to the campus, acting as a monument and a magnet.
Included in the new “Theater for Basketball” will be more restrooms and larger, cushier seating with headrests, cup holders and more legroom than the folding chairs included in the 82-year-old McArthur Court. A total of 2,000 bench seats will be reserved for students.
Thirty-six luxury suites, concession and merchandise stands and a VIP club will help pay for the operation.
The facility also includes space for volleyball, practice facilities and concerts and events. More than 500 onsite parking spaces and access to public transit will make the site accessible.
The project is designed to exceed state requirements for sustainable design and is expected to achieve LEED silver certification at minimum.
Portland-based Hoffman Construction Co. began work in December 2008. National Championship Properties, the nonprofit entity raising funds to build the facility, wants the work complete in 23 months.
Water Wise
The design for the new $83.5-million Eugene Water & Electric Board Roosevelt Operations Center includes an electric and water operations center, warehouse, vehicle shop, covered vehicle storage and materials storage yard. The structure will replace 50-year-old facilities.
Budget was a major challenge. By engaging Seattle-based Lewis Crutcher Lewis Builds Co. as the construction manager and Eugene-based PIVOT Architecture early in the process with a construction management/general contractor arrangement, EWEB was able to find creative ways to reduce the cost by more than 20%.
“We worked as a team to be thoughtful about where money was spent,” says Eric Gunderson, project architect.
Starting earthwork in summer 2008 was important as contractors rushed to take advantage of short windows when...
