GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Workers are making progress on renovations at the University of Florida’s Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
They have spent the past few weeks installing steel framing inside the main arena.
Workers are now securing concrete precast seating decks, which are poured offsite, to the steel framing.
The decks will be the base of the fixed chair back seating being placed on the concourse level of the arena.
Meanwhile, work continues in all areas of the venue with over 200 workers on site each day.
“We are working in every inch of the building,” said Josh Light, Brasfield & Gorrie senior superintendent and the general contractor for the project. “Some of the major activities underway include the installation of the precast stadia that will soon receive the new seating. We are currently installing the framing for the new speaker clusters and center video board. We are erecting steel in several locations including the main grand entry and former gates one and two. In addition to these activities we are putting on the full court press to renovate the service level that will house several of the new locker rooms and a court side club.“
The O’Connell Center is expected to re-open in December.
The Stephen C. O’Connell Center has been a community icon since it opened in December 1980.
The arena is home to several University of Florida athletics teams including men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and men’s and women’s swimming and diving.
In addition, the arena is the proud home to University of Florida commencement and several community events like Dance Marathon, charity events and concerts.
On June 9, UF’s Board of Trustees approved the naming rights of the main arena space to locally based Exactech, a medical orthopedic device company that has significant ties to the university and provided a $5.9 million sponsorship.
For more information on Exactech, visit its website at http://www.exac.com/.
To stay updated on the progress of the project, visit rising.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu and follow the O’Connell Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @OConnellCTR.
The website will be updated regularly with the locations of all displaced events as well as progress on the building renovation.