University of Washington: Husky Stadium Renovation and Expansion

Husky Stadium Renovation and Expansion

PHOTOS © 2013 DOUG SCOTT and HOK (bottom center), ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Husky Stadium has been the home of University of Washington football for over 90 years. A substantial renovation and expansion to the stadium, which opened in 2013, transformed it into a state-of-the-art facility that better serves the needs of students, student-athletes and fans. The design solution developed by HOK provides enhanced amenities while maintaining the stadium’s historic character and surrounding natural setting.

Located adjacent to Lake Washington, the design responds to tight site constraints and enhances the stadium’s outdoor amenities through the creation of large landscaped plazas. On event days, the plazas expand to their full extent, providing continuous public space around the entirety of the stadium bowl. The stadium’s proximity to the softball facility and football practice fields allows for shared use.

Inside the stadium, complete demolition and reconstruction of the lower bowl and south side stands brings fans closer to the action. “The running track, which previously surrounded the field, was removed and the new synthetic turf field was installed four feet lower to optimize sightlines,” says Brad Schrock, director of sports, recreation and entertainment for HOK. “Minimizing sideline dimensions allowed us to bring seating as close to the field as possible and create new premium seating options desired by fans.”

Six “Touchdown Terrace” patio suites and 60 club seats were added at the field-level, offering fans a front-row, toes-on-turf, game-day experience. New circulation to the concourses and seating allows for easy access to The Zone, a popular pregame and half-time gathering space that offers activities for fans of all ages. In addition, The Zone offers up close access to the Husky Team as they enter the stadium.

Extensive efforts were made to minimize the facility’s environmental impact. The project is targeting LEED certification and adheres to Salmon-Safe Project guidelines.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • California School District Completes Elementary School Modernization

    The San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting for a whole-site modernization of Pacific Beach Elementary School, according to local news. The school first opened with one building in 1930 and added six more between 1938 and 1957.

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.