I took this last week before the Fan Committee meeting in the R Room. I liked how it really looks like it was planned and built with the stadium...it fits the space really well.

(01-22-2016 04:40 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I took this last week before the Fan Committee meeting in the R Room. I liked how it really looks like it was planned and built with the stadium...it fits the space really well.

It fits in perfectly. It looks like it was part of the original construction. Very nice. Thanks.

Your welcome....I would love to see a similarly shaped structure in the South End Zone. It could have the grass berm from the building down to the field (as everyone has wanted), and it would also have outdoor seats that belong to the areas inside. The ground floor could contain a Rice Football HOF which every fan could see by walking in at ground level (the upper levels would be restricted to Owl Club/R Association members). I would think one floor would be a common area with bars and food capability and one set of outside seats which would be accessed from this floor for Owl Club members of a certain level. An upper floor might be the replacement for the Stadium Club (reducing the need for that area to be included in the Press Box renovation) and there would be a second set of outside seats connected to this level. This would be available to donors of a higher level like the Stadium Club is today. There could be other meeting areas within the building and perhaps a small auditorium that could be used for presentations by the AD and/or football coaches.

TCU's South Endzone has a look similar to what I was thinking (the way the outdoor seats connect to the inside areas). The difference is that where they have traditional end zone seats we would have the grass berm.

(01-22-2016 05:14 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Your welcome....I would love to see a similarly shaped structure in the South End Zone. It could have the grass berm from the building down to the field (as everyone has wanted), and it would also have outdoor seats that belong to the areas inside. The ground floor could contain a Rice Football HOF which every fan could see by walking in at ground level (the upper levels would be restricted to Owl Club/R Association members). I would think one floor would be a common area with bars and food capability and one set of outside seats which would be accessed from this floor for Owl Club members of a certain level. An upper floor might be the replacement for the Stadium Club (reducing the need for that area to be included in the Press Box renovation) and there would be a second set of outside seats connected to this level. This would be available to donors of a higher level like the Stadium Club is today. There could be other meeting areas within the building and perhaps a small auditorium that could be used for presentations by the AD and/or football coaches.

And an acoustically appropriate band hall for the MOB. Appropriately sized for the band Rice expects to have once its football team is even more successful.

(01-22-2016 05:14 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Your welcome....I would love to see a similarly shaped structure in the South End Zone. It could have the grass berm from the building down to the field (as everyone has wanted), and it would also have outdoor seats that belong to the areas inside. The ground floor could contain a Rice Football HOF which every fan could see by walking in at ground level (the upper levels would be restricted to Owl Club/R Association members). I would think one floor would be a common area with bars and food capability and one set of outside seats which would be accessed from this floor for Owl Club members of a certain level. An upper floor might be the replacement for the Stadium Club (reducing the need for that area to be included in the Press Box renovation) and there would be a second set of outside seats connected to this level. This would be available to donors of a higher level like the Stadium Club is today. There could be other meeting areas within the building and perhaps a small auditorium that could be used for presentations by the AD and/or football coaches.

TCU's South Endzone has a look similar to what I was thinking (the way the outdoor seats connect to the inside areas). The difference is that where they have traditional end zone seats we would have the grass berm.

I wonder what will come of the south endzone. The only thing I did like about Greenspan's plan was the "open" concept for the south end. It would be a nice entry to the stadium. At the same time, some seating, like in the picture, would close in the stadium nicely and give it a cozier feel. Whatever happens, it will be an enormous project. There's a lot there that needs to be dealt with. My worst fear is that nothing will be done, and it'll look like it does now until I'm an old man. It's going to take big money to renovate the south end, unless you tear it down to ground level, and build nothing in it's place but ticket booths and trees.

I see the West Side with the Press Box redo or renovation as the really big ticket project. In addition to the Press Box there are early plans that have some boxes created at the top level of the lower bowl where the box seats are now. Also planned is to change the pitch of the seating areas in the lower bowl.

One thing that will have to be considered if we do something like I proposed in the South End Zone is a way for the visiting teams and officials to get from the locker rooms to the field. I think a tunnel on either side of the grass berm that connects with the two locker rooms could be done fairly easily. We will have to keep both locker rooms since if we still intend to host HS games I don't think we will offer our North End Zone facilities. What happens to the Cox Weight Room is still up in the air from what I hear.

(01-22-2016 05:25 PM)gsloth Wrote:  

(01-22-2016 05:14 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Your welcome....I would love to see a similarly shaped structure in the South End Zone. It could have the grass berm from the building down to the field (as everyone has wanted), and it would also have outdoor seats that belong to the areas inside. The ground floor could contain a Rice Football HOF which every fan could see by walking in at ground level (the upper levels would be restricted to Owl Club/R Association members). I would think one floor would be a common area with bars and food capability and one set of outside seats which would be accessed from this floor for Owl Club members of a certain level. An upper floor might be the replacement for the Stadium Club (reducing the need for that area to be included in the Press Box renovation) and there would be a second set of outside seats connected to this level. This would be available to donors of a higher level like the Stadium Club is today. There could be other meeting areas within the building and perhaps a small auditorium that could be used for presentations by the AD and/or football coaches.

And an acoustically appropriate band hall for the MOB. Appropriately sized for the band Rice expects to have once its football team is even more successful.

I agree that would be a great structure to have in that end zone. Maybe even have some ground level box seats in the back of the end zone like I believe Mississippi state just put in.

I think one of the sidelines (probably home side) has to be the next project to upgrade the fan experience. I'm not sure if there is a way we can upgrade the suites/press box area because I've never been up there but I would think that is equally important at this point. We had a temporary "suite" set up in one of the corners to woo a donor if I remember correctly. I wonder if we could put something more permanent up since no one really sits in the 4 corners, or if they would even be a desirable spot for suites.

The order for the stadium improvements is North, West, South, East.

I thought about Miss State's ground boxes as well but that would sort of reduce the size of the grass berm and then you would have to connect them to the structure. My idea of the HOF on the ground floor with the berm extending down from that glass window.

Wow, hadn't ck'd on this in many months. Nice progress.

(01-22-2016 06:01 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(01-22-2016 05:25 PM)gsloth Wrote:  

(01-22-2016 05:14 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Your welcome....I would love to see a similarly shaped structure in the South End Zone. It could have the grass berm from the building down to the field (as everyone has wanted), and it would also have outdoor seats that belong to the areas inside. The ground floor could contain a Rice Football HOF which every fan could see by walking in at ground level (the upper levels would be restricted to Owl Club/R Association members). I would think one floor would be a common area with bars and food capability and one set of outside seats which would be accessed from this floor for Owl Club members of a certain level. An upper floor might be the replacement for the Stadium Club (reducing the need for that area to be included in the Press Box renovation) and there would be a second set of outside seats connected to this level. This would be available to donors of a higher level like the Stadium Club is today. There could be other meeting areas within the building and perhaps a small auditorium that could be used for presentations by the AD and/or football coaches.

And an acoustically appropriate band hall for the MOB. Appropriately sized for the band Rice expects to have once its football team is even more successful.

I agree that would be a great structure to have in that end zone. Maybe even have some ground level box seats in the back of the end zone like I believe Mississippi state just put in.

I think one of the sidelines (probably home side) has to be the next project to upgrade the fan experience. I'm not sure if there is a way we can upgrade the suites/press box area because I've never been up there but I would think that is equally important at this point. We had a temporary "suite" set up in one of the corners to woo a donor if I remember correctly. I wonder if we could put something more permanent up since no one really sits in the 4 corners, or if they would even be a desirable spot for suites.

I think the suites would be perfect in the corners. They wouldn't obstruct anyone's view on the upper deck and fans could still see the game from anywhere on the lower concourse.

(01-22-2016 05:57 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I see the West Side with the Press Box redo or renovation as the really big ticket project. In addition to the Press Box there are early plans that have some boxes created at the top level of the lower bowl where the box seats are now. Also planned is to change the pitch of the seating areas in the lower bowl.

One thing that will have to be considered if we do something like I proposed in the South End Zone is a way for the visiting teams and officials to get from the locker rooms to the field. I think a tunnel on either side of the grass berm that connects with the two locker rooms could be done fairly easily. We will have to keep both locker rooms since if we still intend to host HS games I don't think we will offer our North End Zone facilities. What happens to the Cox Weight Room is still up in the air from what I hear.

Tiki, thanks for the info on the future plans for HRS renovations.
Have any cost figures for each stage been mentioned? I'd be interested in how the rest of the renovations compare with the soon to be finished North EZF, cost-wise.

Interesting view inside with the construction lights on, at night.

(01-31-2016 11:36 AM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

Nice!

Camera back on. They finished the brickwork on the left side building and finally covered up the right side of the roof fascia.

YES! It's really starting to come together now. Does anyone know when it'll be done? I can't imagine it taking more than a couple more months to complete.

Looks like they're now working on the little building on the right hand side. Should see the bricks coming in for that soon.

I think I see a giant Owl head on the front windows to the left on the main structure.

(02-11-2016 01:15 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I think I see a giant Owl head on the front windows to the left on the main structure.

Didn't the rendering have a giant owl across the entire window? I was hoping that wasn't just a graphics detail.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of turning the south endzone building into the band hall for The MOB and visitor's locker rooms. Why spend millions of dollars to tear it all down, when all you really need to do is renovate and repurpose the existing infrastructure. The entrance to the stadium will remain an ugly cement wall, but there are grater tragedies.