A classic is being remade right before our eyes! The new Robins Center is roaring – with the sounds of construction workers and equipment – as the much-anticipated renovation project for the home of Spider basketball has swiftly moved into high gear.
The University of Richmond recently hired construction firm Barton Malow to renovate the 41-year-old Robins Center, heralded as one the finestarenas of its kind since it opened in 1972. Barton Malow, consistently ranked among the Top 25 Sports Builders in the nation, has significant, related experience, including construction of John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia and renovations at Richmond International Raceway.
A two-week project to remove all of the Robins Center seats is well underway. A majority of the seats will be shipped off-site to be refurbished and later returned and re-installed in the arena. Luxury seats and premium seats will be added as part of the new look and feel to the main arena, bringing fans closer to the action.
On the concourse, construction is underway to renovate all bathroom locations and add women’s restrooms. Installation is scheduled to begin shortly on two elevators located on the northeast and northwest sides of the building, which will allow fans to easily access the hospitality areas in each of the four corners of the Robins Center.
As the calendar turns towards late summer and early fall, the Robins Center court will be refinished and repainted. At the sametime, new LED lighting will be installed (the newest in sports lighting technology) in the ceiling, which earlier this spring received a new look with a fresh coat of dark blue paint.
Also during the fall prior to the start of the basketball season, four video boards and scoreboards will be installed on the facades of the hospitality areas, giving fans live video action, replays, time and score and player statistics.
While the early stages of construction is on-going, the main arena floor remains unaffected, so the popular Spider basketball summer camps forboys and girls continue to be hosted in the Robins Center by the men’s and women’s programs.
The men’s basketball home opener in the new Robins Center is scheduled for Friday, November 8.
For updates on the Robins Center renovation project, visit theOwen & Owens Renovation Page located atRichmondSpiders.com.
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