Why Did We Build So Many Seats?

[wilburnVol]

Originally posted by Fayettevol@Nov 11, 2005 12:48 PM
It was planned during the Ernie & Bernie Show, when we beat UK 5 times straight, when Stokely was overflowing and people lined up for tickets. It was also envisioned as a convocation center, in which the U could seat every student for important assemblies.

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But Mears was starting to go bonkers and when have you ever seen everybody on campus in one place at one time?

Not that I think you're wrong, I think it was a load of manure just to "justify" a big house.

Shawingggggggggg. :disappointed:

 

[wilburnVol]

Originally posted by Fayettevol@Nov 11, 2005 1:13 PM
Trivia questions:
1. Does anybody remember the construction troubles of the place?
2. Which Tenn. contractor took over the construction after the original contractor quit before construction was finished?

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I remember that a lot of the faculty sued to stop its building and wasn't it the same guy who got thrown off the Survivor show, BB "brains" Anderson? :crazy:

 

[VolInsider]

Originally posted by Fayettevol@Nov 11, 2005 11:43 AM
Trivia questions:
1. Does anybody remember the construction troubles of the place?
2. Which Tenn. contractor took over the construction after the original contractor quit before construction was finished?

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Yes, we had to study Thompson-Boling for a full week when I was in Architecure, as an example of "horrible architecure". One of my professors said that if any of us in class ever built something that horribl, he would not claim that he had us in class or even knew us lol:

The main problem was with the ground testing (or lack thereof) before construction. The concrete was too heavy for the ground under it because of the limestone and proximity to the river. The arena started "sinking". They had to go in and underfill the structure with enough concrete to hit bedrock.

There was also problems with embezzlement and some other situations with the first company (that also built that monstrosity of an architecture building about the same time). I belive Bell Construction (that did the skyboxes) took over and finished the job.

The arena came out being EXTREMELY over budget (almost double) and strangely looks nothing like the original plans, which called for a square faciliity that looked very similar to a scaled down version of the Alamodome.

The Thompson-Boling renovations are currently in the works. I have seen the plans for myself. There will be suites constructed along the sideline upper deck taking almost the entire upper deck area behind the benches except the first 3 rows that overhang the lower level. LED display boards are also being planned that will run along the facade of the upper deck. Outside, stair and elevator towers will be constructed giving access to the suites and glass/brick entrance plazas will be constructed at the main entrance points at either end of the arena. In addition, the practice facility will be constructed in the parking lot opposite of the McKenzie Center (where the coaches park now). It will be connected to the arena, and allow teams easy access from their locker rooms under Thompson-Boling.

 

[VolInsider]

...oh yeah, they need to convert Stokely into a hockey arena! :rock: :crazy:

 

[wilburnVol]

Originally posted by VolInsider@Nov 11, 2005 2:39 PM
Yes, we had to study Thompson-Boling for a full week when I was in Architecure, as an example of "horrible architecure".  One of my professors said that if any of us in class ever built something that horribl, he would not claim that he had us in class or even knew us lol:

The main problem was with the ground testing (or lack thereof) before construction.  The concrete was too heavy for the ground under it because of the limestone and proximity to the river.  The arena started "sinking".  They had to go in and underfill the structure with enough concrete to hit bedrock.

There was also problems with embezzlement and some other situations with the first company (that also built that monstrosity of an architecture building about the same time).  I belive Bell Construction (that did the skyboxes) took over and finished the job.

The arena came out being EXTREMELY over budget (almost double) and strangely looks nothing like the original plans, which called for a square faciliity that looked very similar to a scaled down version of the Alamodome.

The Thompson-Boling renovations are currently in the works.  I have seen the plans for myself. There will be suites constructed along the sideline upper deck taking almost the entire upper deck area behind the benches except the first 3 rows that overhang the lower level. LED display boards are also being planned that will run along the facade of the upper deck. Outside, stair and elevator towers will be constructed giving access to the suites and glass/brick entrance plazas will be constructed at the main entrance points at either end of the arena.  In addition, the practice facility will be constructed in the parking lot opposite of the McKenzie Center (where the coaches park now).  It will be connected to the arena, and allow teams easy access from their locker rooms under Thompson-Boling.

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Thanks for the inside report, VolInsider.

The architecture building looks like some kind of aborted Bauhaus, T=B is not what the plans looked like? Did they have to finish out in the cheap?

 

[VolInsider]

Part of it was changing the plans to make more seats and win the "schlong contest", the rest was to finish in the cheap.

Another tidbit. The construction changes meant a weakening of the structure itself. The reason why there is the four-corner jumbotron/statboards and no center-hanging scoreboard in TBA is because the arena can't support the weight of it.upper exterior, is only held up by the four posts in the corners. :huh:

Vol Insider :ninja: