FAYETTEVILLE -- A baseball performance center was among three athletics-related capital projects approved this week for $43-$55 million by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees.
The projects were approved as part of the agenda of the boards's regularly scheduled meeting in Fort Smith. The board also approved the selection of the architect and engineer designs, as well as the construction manager and general contractor teams for the facilities.
"As we continue to focus on student-athlete success, we are pleased to be moving forward on three important projects to further support student-athletes in some of the most successful sports programs at the University of Arkansas," said Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek.
According to the university, the projects will be funded entirely by athletic revenues, gifts and bond proceeds from a future bond issue and no university funds will be required to complete them. Fundraising for all three projects is ongoing.
The approximately 40,000-square foot baseball performance center is estimated to cost $20-$25 million. It will be built beyond the right field wall at the southwest corner of Baum Stadium.
WER Architects/Planners, based in Fayetteville and Little Rock, and HKS Architects in Dallas will lead the design team on the baseball clubhouse project. Kinco Constructors, based in Springdale and Little Rock, will serve as the general contractor.
The Randal Tyson Track Center will undergo an extensive renovation and expansion currently estimated at $15-$20 million. Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects, based in Fayetteville and Little Rock, and Populous in Kansas City, Mo., will lead the design team, while CDI Contractors will serve as the general contractor.
An approximately 20,000-square foot track and field performance center will be constructed for an estimated $8-$10 million south of the track at John McDonnell Field. Huffts Projects in Bentonville will work with AECOM in Kansas City on the design of the facility with Flintco, with offices in Springdale and Tulsa, Okla., as the construction manager and general contractor.
"Our baseball and men's and women's track and field programs consistently compete for SEC and national championships and we want to provide our student-athletes the resources they need to succeed," Yurachek said.
"We are appreciative of the support of our Board of Trustees, President Don Bobbitt and Chancellor Joe Steinmetz on these projects and the continued pursuit of our vision, 'To Be the Best.'"
Sports on 11/18/2018