University of Virginia - Scott Stadium - The Carl Smith Center
Charlottesville, Virginia
As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the University of Virginia wanted its stadium to reflect the growing national trend toward home-field advantage stadiums at the same time that it resolved the stadium’s relationship with the campus master plan and enhanced opportunities to increase revenues. Drawing on Heery’s specialized expertise in college-level football stadiums, the University selected Heery to handle an $86 million phased expansion and improvement at Scott Stadium.
New features of the renovated and expanded stadium include:
- Seating capacity of 60,000
- 56 new luxury suites for revenue generation
- A new president’s/donors box
- 500-car parking deck with VIP access
- New entry plaza and pergola
- Improved student lawn seating
- Distinctive vertical scoreboard
- New 20,000 SF athletic training, service areas & locker rooms
- New press facilities
- Hall of Fame
- Expanded concessions and restrooms for fans
A double line of white columns topped by a trellis joins the east and west seating areas at the north end zone, serving as a point of arrival for students entering the lawn seating area. This new entry plaza and pergola provides a unifying feature between the stadium and the surrounding student housing, aquatic center and grounds. Plus, as a backdrop for the scoreboard, the pergola frames the classical image of UVA captured by television cameras and seen by the viewing audience—an important consideration given the television revenue potential involved in college football.
Heery’s solution allowed for revenue preservation, by breaking the phases into discreet construction activities that could occur between seasons.