Over the weekend, the University took a major step toward the construction of its highly anticipated new basketball arena.
In a meeting Saturday in Prince George County, the University’s Board of Visitors’ executive committee approved the hiring of two architectural firms to work on the project. VMDO Architects, P.C. of Charlottesville will be the primary design architect for the arena. Ellerbe Becket of Minneapolis will serve as a consultant.
“We are extremely excited, pleased and grateful to be in this position to help create what I think is one of the University’s most significant projects,” VMDO principal Robert Moje said. “It’s euphoria.”
After conducting interviews, an interview panel recommended the VMDO and Ellerbe Becket team for the project to the executive committee. Three other finalists were interviewed: the HNTB and Train & Partners team, Hughes Group Architects & NBBJ and Heinlein Schrock Sterns.
According to a resolution released by the committee Sunday, the following criteria were considered in selecting the architect: the firm’s presentation quality, its plans to assist the University, relevant experience and qualifications, previous success, and availability.
According to the resolution, VMDO best fit the criteria.
“The VMDO/Ellerbe Becket team featured an array of materials highlighting several compelling qualities that distinguished them from the other short-listed firms,” the committee said in its resolution.
VMDO, located in downtown Charlottesville, has a large amount of experience with the University. The firm has worked on Klâckner Stadium, Hereford College, Scott Stadium’s renovations and expansion, and New Cabell Hall’s renovations. In 1987, VMDO also renovated the Virginia men’s basketball locker room in the lower level of University Hall, VMDO’s first athletic project with the University.
In addition to the arena project, VMDO is the architect for the $5 million renovation of the Virginia baseball stadium. The University hopes that project’s first phase will be completed in time for the 2002 spring season.
VMDO’s lengthy association with the University and its nearby location were large factors in its selection for the arena project. VMDO’s ties with the internationally acclaimed sports design firm Ellerbe Becket played a role as well. Ellerbe’s portfolio includes the Indianapolis’ Conseco Fieldhouse, Washington’s MCI Center, New York’s Madison Square Garden, Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Stadium, and Beijing’s Guangdong Olympic Stadium, which will house China’s national games and the 2008 Olympics. Ellerbe is also working on the Comcast Center, the University of Maryland’s new basketball arena now under construction.
VMDO will begin work on the preliminary phase of the arena project right away. The firm will juggle ideas, test different architectural and financial models, and examine various site arrangements and adjustments.
Based on a feasibility study done by University architects, VMDO has developed three site plans that are preliminary ideas for the arena’s design. They include a pond on the east and north sides of the arena – located on the north side of Massie Road – and smaller surrounding buildings that will house team administration offices, training and practice facilities and parking.
The plans differ on relative elevations and placements of the arena and its surrounding buildings as well as the arena’s seating and suite plans. Exact seating arrangements, as far as where season pass and student seating will be, have not been planned yet. The expected capacity for the arena is 12,000 to 15,000 fans.
The University hopes that design guidelines will be developed for presentation to the Board at its October meeting. The overall project is tentatively projected to be completed by the 2006-07 academic year.