It’s no news that college hoops are big in the life of students, fans and the local residents who often support their teams at a feverish pitch. Thus, the University of Mississippi, founded in 1848 and known for its athletic programs, recently commissioned a $96.5 million basketball arena, The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The multi-purpose facility is home to the men’s and women’s basketball program and also hosts graduation ceremonies, concerts and other university-wide events.
Work on the facility began with a groundbreaking ceremony in July 2014, and opened to great fanfare during a weekend long celebration, January 7-10, 2016. The facility was designed by AECOM Technology, an architecture and engineering firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. BL Harbert International located in Birmingham, Alabama was the general contractor with experience building several other SEC arenas.
The facility consists of a three-story structural steel frame supporting steel trusses. From the exterior, it wields an elegant footprint in spite of its scale, one that is enhanced by a curved and colonnaded entrance façade that echoes The Pavilion’s signature curved roof. The roof is clad in metal paneling manufactured by ACI Building Systems LLC and coated with Valspar’s Fluropon in Terra Cotta, a rich earth-tone hue.
Chosen from an extensive list of colors, Valspar’s Fluropon 70 percent PVDF coating in Terra Cotta is a premium, high performance product. With Fluropon’s exceptional dirt and stain resistant properties, and its durability in all sorts of weather conditions, the combination of ACI panels and Valspar’s coatings ensure The Pavilion’s striking roof will endure lustrously for years to come.
“Valspar has consistently provided ACI with a superior product,” said Tim Davis, ACI’s Vice President of Sales. “We are confident in Valspar’s products to meet or exceed all our customers' requirements.”
ACI's UltraLok Roof System is designed and fabricated with both appearance and weather resistance top-of-mind. The UltraLok Standing Seam Panel, is 18" x 2" with factory installed sealant and was specified from over ten different panel profiles. The Ultra-Lok panel is mechanically seam and will offer excellent weather resistance and be practically maintenance free.
“We are excited to work on such a high profile project in conjunction with ACI,” said Tommy Rogers, Rogers Steel Company. “The 22 gauge galvalume substrate on this job, paired with the Valspar Fluropon coating, is not only aesthetically pleasing, but offers a premium roofing system fitting of this project.”
At 225,000 square-feet, the state-of-the-art arena seats 9,500 fans. In addition to the basketball court, it features locker room suites for players, athletic coaches and officials. The complex also includes first class amenities such as a private student concourse, courtside and baseline seating for students, three premium club areas – the Courtside Club, the All-American Club and the Pavilion Club - more than 1,700 premium seats, and an intimate seating bowl.
Related Stories
| Sep 3, 2014
New designation launched to streamline LEED review process
The LEED Proven Provider designation is designed to minimize the need for additional work during the project review process.
| Sep 2, 2014
Ranked: Top green building sector AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
AECOM, Gensler, and Turner top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest green design and construction firms.
| Aug 29, 2014
The new College Football Hall of Fame opens in Atlanta
Adjacent to the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park, the three-story, 94,250-sf attraction is designed to celebrate the traditions of college football.
| Aug 27, 2014
Ranked: Top sports facility sector AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Populous, AECOM, and Turner head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest sports facility design and construction firms, as reported in the 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 27, 2014
Survey of NCAA athletic directors reveals strong demand for new facilities, fan amenities
More than 80% of college athletic directors plan to make significant investments in facilities over the next five years to target potential recruits and spectators, according to a new survey by AECOM and Ohio University.
| Aug 20, 2014
WELL Building: The next step in green sports construction
The WELL Building Standard, a new protocol that focuses on human wellness within the built environment, is a particularly good fit for sports facilities, write Skanska's Tom Tingle and Beth Heider.
| Aug 19, 2014
HOK to acquire 360 Architecture
Expected to be finalized by the end of October, the acquisition of 360 Architecture will provide immediate benefits to both firms’ clients worldwide as HOK re-enters the sports and entertainment market.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction market benefits from improving economy, new technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following years of fairly lackluster demand for commercial property remodeling, reconstruction revenue is improving, according to the 2014 Giants 300 report.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Construction Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Structure Tone, Turner, and Gilbane top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction contractor and construction management firms in the U.S.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, URS, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction engineering and engineering/architecture firms in the U.S.
