As students are heading back to school, the Shiel Sexton project team wrapped up the final touches to the eagerly anticipated project, IU Memorial Stadium Excellence Academy. The legendary field received a major facelift with added amenities that students and visitors can enjoy in the 2018 football season and well into the future. 

The new addition expanded the student athletics facilities in Memorial Stadium and provides a consolidated rehabilitation and treatment center.  The Excellence Academy on the lower field level houses rehabilitation, hydrotherapy, the wellness center medical suite, sports science research, and academic support and education spaces in the Life Skills Center. The project spans approximately 67,000 SF with two primary levels and a roof terrace. The open roof terrace is nearly 15,000 SF, with an additional 15,000 SF of exterior covered concourse that can accommodate large events.

Shiel Sexton Senior Project Manager, Joel Scheele explains, “The hydrotherapy area was the most unique feature of this project. This included hammering out limestone for the pool pit foundations, to waterproofing the entire pit, to completing finishes in the hydrotherapy area with a scaffold system above the pools. The excavation, limestone removal and foundation installation process proved challenging due to the quantity of foundations and limited access in and out of the low elevation area that the addition was being built.  The controlling and mitigation of groundwater seeping into the low area also proved challenging during the foundation and hydrotherapy pool pit installation process.”

The concourse level renovations included the new Hoosier Room, a flexible dining facility designed to seat up to 350 with dedicated kitchen and servery, multipurpose event suite, and spectator viewing spaces that look out to the football field through a full height glass wall. The south end zone structure received a large 40×70 video scoreboard, and the north end zone structure was amended with a 20×60 video board.

“The continuation of the concourse level walking surface around the south end of the stadium and new entry plaza will now provide a better experience for fans to enter the stadium through the south side of the building and access their seats on any side of the stadium,” states Chris Harrison, Shiel Sexton Senior Superintendent.

The hard work Shiel Sexton has put into this 20-month long project has paid off and has not been overlooked by the IU staff. Stephen Michael Harper, Legal/Assistant Athletics Director of the Athletics Department of Memorial Stadium expressed, “We really appreciate your willingness to problem solve. You guys are true pros, and your extra effort does not go unnoticed.”

Shiel Sexton was Construction Manager at Risk alongside designer, RATIO Architects, for this $35 million high-profile project. Shiel Sexton is proud to be involved in another Indiana University renovation and addition that will create an impact on students and visitors for many years to come.


The SCOOP | September 2018 | More from this issue