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
| May 16, 2013
Chicago unveils $1.1 billion plan for DePaul arena, Navy Pier upgrades
Hoping to send a loud message that Chicago is serious about luring tourism and entertainment spending, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has released details of two initiatives that have been developing for more than a year and that it says will mean $1.1 billion in investment in the McCormick Place and Navy Pier areas.
| May 7, 2013
First look: Golden State Warriors stadium by Snøhetta, AECOM
Architects Snøhetta and AECOM have revealed their latest renderings of a new stadium for NBA basketball team the Golden State Warriors on the waterfront in San Francisco.
| May 2, 2013
Holl-designed Campbell Sports Center completed at Columbia
Steven Holl Architects celebrates the completion of the Campbell Sports Center, Columbia University’s new training and teaching facility.
| Apr 30, 2013
Tips for designing with fire rated glass - AIA/CES course
Kate Steel of Steel Consulting Services offers tips and advice for choosing the correct code-compliant glazing product for every fire-rated application. This BD+C University class is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Apr 26, 2013
BIG tapped to design Europa City in suburban Paris
Danish architecture firm, BIG - led by Bjarke Ingels – has been announced as the winner of an international invited competition for the design of Europa City, a 800,000 square meter cultural, recreational and retail development in Triangle de Gonesse, France.
| Apr 24, 2013
Los Angeles may add cool roofs to its building code
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants cool roofs added to the city’s building code. He is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.
| Apr 12, 2013
Chicago rail conversion puts local twist on High Line strategy
Plans are moving forward to convert an unused, century-old Chicago rail artery to a 2.7 mile, 13 acre recreational facility and transit corridor.
Building Enclosure Systems | Mar 13, 2013
5 novel architectural applications for metal mesh screen systems
From folding façades to colorful LED displays, these fantastical projects show off the architectural possibilities of wire mesh and perforated metal panel technology.
| Mar 5, 2013
Recycled recreation: Waste-to-energy plant combines with ski resort
A new project near Copenhagen pushes the boundaries of the term "mixed use," combining a waste-to-energy plant with a ski resort.
