Stadium Improvement Project Honored as a Finalist

The Kearney School District’s stadium improvement project was honored as a finalist for the Associated General Contractors of America Building Excellence Awards. The honor was for the category of Project of the Year for General Contractor Projects (Under $5 Million), and was featured in Modern Builder Magazine.

In April 2019, Universal Construction Company, Inc. began construction on a $3.2 million project to improve the stadium. Universal was the Construction Manager and DLR Group was the Project Architect.

The project consisted of demolition of the existing home bleachers and press box, installation of new bleachers (with seating for 2,500, including 22 ADA-compliant seats), a new press box, an elevator to the press box, a new video board, and a reconfigured scoreboard. There are new spaces for merchandise and concessions, as well as a new concrete concourse.

Universal completed the project by Friday, August 30, 2019, in time for the football team’s first home game of the season. In the process, they overcame 22 weather days. The occupancy permit was received on August 28, allowing time for the broadcasting technology to be hooked up and tested.

The Kearney R-1 School District wanted as much local participation on the project as possible. Over 51% of the construction costs were performed by companies in which the Owner or the Senior Project Manager assigned to the project lived within the City. This was the highest-ever participation rate achieved by the School District.

Excellent coordination among team members allowed for installation of the new video board and reconfiguration of the existing scoreboard (both of which were to operate out of the new press box) to take place while construction of the press box was under way.

Jeff Morrison, Assistant Superintendent of Kearney School District, wrote, “Universal maintained their promise of opening the stadium by the first game.

The challenge of weather alone provided an excuse for Universal. However, Universal did not use it an excuse and continued to promise the District a stadium that would be operable for the first home football game. Construction never interfered with our day-to-day school business. Most importantly, Universal kept the project within budget.”

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story