Camping World Stadium planned upgrades

Article posted by Coliseum, February 28^th, 2025

Image: Camping World Stadium

Improvements to Orlando’s (Florida, US) Camping World Stadium advanced on February 24^th with the selection of a Barton Malow-Hunt Construction joint venture (JV) for a Construction Manager at-risk contract to complete $400 million in upgrades over the next two-and-a-half years.

‘ENR’ stated that the above selection comes after a November decision from the Orange County Board of Commissioners (Florida) to dedicate $400 million from tourist development taxes for the project following a report over the Summer from a citizen task force that recommended uses of unspent tourist tax dollars. The 20,000-capacity Kia Center in Orlando, home to the National Basketball Association’s (NBA’s) Orlando Magic, was recommended for $226 million in improvements.

The 60,219-capacity Camping World Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Orlando, Florida, United States located in the West Lakes neighborhood of Downtown Orlando West of the new sports and entertainment facilities including the Kia Center, the 3,000-capacity Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the 25,500-capacity Inter&Co Stadium.

Southfield (US)-based the Barton Malow Company specializes in the construction of automotive, energy, industrial, and mission critical projects throughout North America. Barton Malow has been committed to 100 years of Building People, Projects and Communities. The Barton Malow Family of Companies comprises five entities and two partner firms across North America. With more than 3,000 team members it is on a mission to transform the construction industry through innovation and increased efficiencies in the building process.

The Hunt Construction Group is an American construction management firm based in Indianapolis, Indiana (US). The company was formerly known as Huber, Hunt & Nichols and was founded in 1944 by Paul B. Hunt, Arber J. Huber and Harry S. Nichols. The firm changed its name from Huber, Hunt & Nichols to its current name in 2000. It was acquired by AECOM in 2014.

Dallas (US)-based AECOM is the global infrastructure leader committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities they solve their clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation, and buildings. The AECOM teams partner with the public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design, and engineering to program and construction management.

The Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) is a delivery method which entails a commitment by the Construction Manager to deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) which is based on the construction documents and specifications at the time of the GMP plus any reasonably inferred items or tasks.

‘ENR’ further stated that according to the meeting’s agenda the City has set a substantial completion date of August 31^st, 2027 and the Barton Malow-Hunt JV will include 24 percent participation from women- and minority-owned business enterprises.

The JV beat out three other bidders evaluated by an advisory committee including a Balfour Beatty (infrastructure company based in the United Kingdom)-Austin Construction (specializes in site work, grading and paving for industrial and commercial facilities development) JV, the Gilbane Building Company (provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services and is based in Providence, US) and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company (provides construction management, general contracting, design-build, and integrated project delivery services on projects small and large for a diverse group of customers and is based in Towson, US). The DLR Group (an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new construction, renovation and adaptive reuse) was chosen by the City in November to lead the design for the stadium project, as per media reports at the time.

The information included with the November Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting agenda lays out planned upgrades to the stadium saying the project aims to maximize its seating mix and functionality by adding 2,000 seats to bring the stadium’s total capacity to 65,000.

Information from the agenda shows an expected $338.5-million construction cost for a wide range of improvements at the stadium with the remaining $61.5 million going to non-construction costs including $31.6 million for design and pre-construction services.

The existing upper bowl seating area will be removed and replaced with a new seating bowl profile and the terrace level concourse and amenities will be demolished and replaced atop the existing slab.

A new waterproof system will top the terrace level, restrooms and concessions will be added and the area evaluated for a new concourse to accommodate new amenities. New towers will be constructed for the North and South end zones with plans for the North End Zone Tower to enhance connectivity in that area and provide a new premium seating mix, new terrace level and seating bowl.

The South End Zone Tower is a new structure that will rise from the existing plaza level to accommodate a new press seating mix and at the South end zone at the field level the existing precast seating bowl will be removed and replaced with a retractable seating system to maximize available field use for the concerts or other events. The East and West suite levels will be partially demolished and rebuilt with installation of waterproofing, new interiors to suites and more.

Also included in the plans is a $55-million multipurpose event center with a free-span open area of roughly 90,000-sq-ft, according to an exhibit with the interlocal funding agreement between the City and the County.

The structure will be designed to accommodate rigging for concerts, video displays and seating for up to 6,500 for football, basketball or other sports events as well as related restrooms, meeting areas and the back-of-house amenities.

Improvements are also slated for the parking areas, landscaping and building mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering (MEP) systems as well as a new exterior façade and entry gate canopies.

It will be Barton Malow’s second project at the Camping World Stadium in just a few years with the firm completing a renovation in 2022 alongside The Collage Companies (General Contractor in Lake Mary, Florida).

Barton Malow upgraded the North end zone seating bowl, modernized the restrooms and the concession areas, constructed new premium mezzanine clubs, and upgraded the parking lot and the building systems.

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