Facility Friday: Seattle Center Arena, LSU Football Ops Building and More

Oak View Group released new renderings of the $600 million Seattle Center arena renovation in Seattle. The renderings show a view from building’s interior atrium, from which the city’s iconic Space Needle is visible. The arena, formerly known as KeyArena, could be a home for a future NBA and/or NHL franchise, should either league expand into the city. Architecture firm Populous designed the facility, which is currently scheduled to make its debut sometime in 2020. —Source: Seattle Times 

Latest renderings of revamped KeyArena highlight efforts to preserve ‘historic nature of site and surroundings (via @GeoffBakerTIMES) https://t.co/2mx9cBv52Q pic.twitter.com/R8NTEij92f

— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) February 27, 2018

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in conjunction with developer ROC Ventures, unveiled its Ballpark Commons project this week. The plans call for mixed-use development in the nearby town of Franklin, Wis., with a 4,000-seat baseball stadium as the centerpiece. The school reached an agreement to play all of its home baseball games at the new stadium, which is expected to be complete in time for the 2019 season. —Source: MKEPanthers.com

Cal Poly completed phase one of an $8 million remodeling project to Robin Baggett Stadium, just in time for the baseball team’s home opener. The first phase, which cost a total of $1.1 million, added aluminum bleacher seating and removed the poles that supported safety netting, but obstructed views. The changes bumped up the venue’s seating capacity to a total of 3,138. Phase two of the project, which could begin work as soon as this month, includes plans to replace the clubhouse with a two-story, 10,000-square-foot facility with a lounge, kitchen, meeting and study space, a locker room, a training room, offices and a cold-plunge pool. —Source: The Tribune

Louisiana State University released renderings of the proposed renovations to the school’s Football Operations building. Some of the upgrades include a nutritional facility for all student-athletes, a new lobby entrance, a football hall of fame, and the “LSU Experience Room.” The renovation will update the building’s tech and finishes, and add an additional 25,000 square feet. —Source: LSUSports.net