The athletics department at the University of Florida has appointed Crawford Architects and Gensler to develop renovation, construction and phasing options for Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as The Swamp.
The Gainesville-based university announced in July that the 88,548-capacity stadium, which was built in 1930, would be undergoing major renovation work. It will be the largest facility project in the history of the athletics department, with an estimated cost of around $400m (£319m/€372m).
The design team will review recent comprehensive athletic department studies and advance plans and concepts focusing on every aspect of the fan experience. UF’s goal is to preserve the energy and history of the stadium while upgrading the concourses, entry gates, seating, concession areas and restrooms, and enhancing the video boards and sound system.
Crawford Architects and Gensler will work with a future construction management firm with the goal of having an entire project team in place by January. The Swamp is home to the Gators, UF’s American football team.
UF athletics director Scott Stricklin said: “We are looking forward to working alongside the design team on this historic venture. The coming months will provide specifics on what improvements fans can look forward to, along with details on timeline and costs for the project.”
David Murphy, owner and senior principal at Crawford Architects, added: “The Crawford Architects team is honoured by this selection and look forward to collaborating with the University of Florida on this transformational project.
“The Swamp is one of, if not the most iconic stadium in (American) football. The building and its unique features offer a wealth of ‘design assets’ that the Crawford team will draw on to create an enhanced game-day experience.”
The financial model for the renovation will be similar to previous Gator facility projects, with an “aggressive” fundraising campaign to anchor the funding efforts.
Crawford Architects previously worked on the design of Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. Gensler, together with Rafael de la-Hoz, recently landed the contract to design a complete overhaul of Real Betis’ Estadio Benito Villamarín.
